Hockey Alberta, in partnership with Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), is hosting the Global Game on the weekend of February 16-17 in Calgary. The Global Game is an IIHF initiative focused on uniting female hockey players across the globe through sport in this one, global continuous game.

The Global Game embodies the spirit of enjoyment, teamwork, and collaborating with those from diverse backgrounds. This unique game starts on February 16 and is played in 28 different countries across the globe before being handed off to Canada to play the final segment. A cumulative score is kept across all 28 countries between Team White and Team Blue with a winner being declared after the Canadian portion of the game. The goal is to unite all females currently playing hockey as one global family.

Two teams made up of participants from the 10 Hockey Canada branches compete for Team White and Team Blue in the Canadian portion of the Global Game. The participants selected for the Canadian game will be placed on a team with other players from across Canada. As the host province, Alberta has been given the opportunity to select 16 players to participate: 10 forwards, four defense and two goaltenders.

Selected participants get the opportunity to spend the weekend in Calgary participating in off-ice sessions, visiting the Hockey Canada Hall of Champions, and listening to guest speakers. Along with these off-ice activities, participants will compete in the Global Game.

Weekend Activities:

Friday, February 15: Depending on hometown, participants may need to travel to Calgary

Saturday, February 16: Presentations and Speakers; Off-Ice Activities; and the GLOBAL GAME

Applicants must be Bantam age and registered to a Bantam A or B level female hockey team within Alberta for the 2018-2019 season. Accommodation will be covered for the participants selected. If you are interested in participating in the 2019 Global Game weekend festivities, please fill out the application below and submit it to Hockey Alberta by January 22.

NOTE: Depending on the hometown, participants may need to travel into Calgary on Friday, February 15. By submitting an application, participants agree to cover the costs associated with their own travel. Meals and accommodations will be taken care of upon check in with Global Game Staff.

Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial are also proud to unveil a new Snapchat filter, available at all Provincial rinks across the province. Players and fans are encouraged to use the Provincials filter, and share it on Snapchat, as well as other social media platforms.

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media:

Two more host communities are also celebrating True Spirit of Hockey Day this week, with Fort Macleod and Lethbridge hosting a number of fun activities at local schools, allowing students to learn about hockey, and the teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting coach applications for the Team Alberta U16 Male and U18 Female teams that will be competing in the 2019 WHL Cup and National Women’s U18 Championship, respectively.

Team Alberta U16 Male is seeking two Assistant Coaches and one Video Coach, while Team Alberta U18 Female is seeking one Head Coach, two Assistant Coaches, one Video Coach, and one Goaltender Coach.

Hockey Alberta is currently seeking the application of Coach Developers. Coach Developers play a large role in the delivery of the National Coaching Certification Program’s (NCCP) coach courses and additional coach development initiatives through Hockey Alberta.

During the 2018-2019 season, Hockey Alberta delivered over 150 NCCP courses and an additional 110 professional development courses focusing on topics such as Seasonal Planning, Game & Bench Management, Practice Planning, Creating Offense and others. Supporting and developing coaches will continue to be a focus for Hockey Alberta, and in efforts to expand our network and capacity we are looking to identify experienced and passionate leaders to join our team.

In addition to the on-ice action, seven host communities held a True Spirit of Hockey Day to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport: Cold Lake, Duchess, Elk Point, Nanton, Okotoks, Red Deer and Vermilion.

Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial are also proud to unveil a new Snapchat filter, available at all Provincial rinks across the province. Players and fans are encouraged to use the Provincials filter, and share it on Snapchat, as well as other social media platforms.

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media:

Five host communities are also celebrating True Spirit of Hockey Day this week, with Cold Lake, Duchess, Elk Point, Nanton, Okotoks, Red Deer and Vermilion all hosting a number of fun activities at local schools, allowing students to learn about hockey, and the teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport.

RED DEER – Six months of regular season and tournament action, including up to six weeks of games in Zone playdowns, culminates starting this weekend, as teams prepare to “March to a title” at the 2019 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial.

Tournament action will determine the majority of the 2019 provincial champions. Thirteen titles will be awarded this weekend. Next weekend will see another 12 champions crowned. Nine more champions will be determined on March 31, along with the Junior B champions on April 7. Tournament champions emerge from a weekend of round-robin pool play and playoff action in their respective tournaments.

For schedules, arenas, host organizations and contacts, and other event-specific information, check the Hockey Alberta website at hockeyalberta.ca or the Provincial Championships website at haprovincials.ca.

In addition to the on-ice action, several communities will participate in True Spirit of Hockey Day activities in their location communities. In conjunction with the Provincial Championship tournament hosts in these communities, a local school is hosting a number of fun activities, allowing students to learn about hockey, and the teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport. Participating communities are: Cold Lake, Duchess, Elk Point, Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Nanton, Okotoks, Olds, Red Deer, Vauxhall and Vermilion.

Jason is currently the Head Coach of the EASA Storm B Sledge Hockey team, as well as the Strathcona Novice Major Warriors. This is his second year as the Head Coach of the Storm, but he has been with the EASA for five years, the first three as an Assistant Coach.

"Jason has been an integral part of the sledge hockey community as well as the minor hockey community in Josephburgh and Strathcona County," said the parent who nominated Jason for the award. "He is extremely busy; a dairy farmer along with three kids, and he coaches both sledge hockey and minor hockey. He has dedicated hours of his time to volunteer with kids and adults with disabilities to allow them to participate in adaptive sport. He is very reliable, dedicated and committed to both the sledge hockey program and the minor hockey association."

"I find great satisfaction when the players grasp what you have taught them, and you can see the improvement in their game and level of play," said Jason. "I believe in hard work and 100% effort from the whole team, regardless of skill level. I teach that it takes all six players on the ice to win a hockey game."

The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.

One minor hockey coach will be selected each month from October through March and will receive a coaching package from Players Bench Team Apparel valued at over $500, which includes a helmet, gloves, track suit, coach bag, puck bag, rink board, and coaching resources.

The 2018-19 deadline for Coach of the Month nominations is Friday, March 15. All coaches who are nominated will be eligible to win one of two year-end prize packages, which include tickets to a Calgary Flames or Edmonton Oilers game.

Alberta males born in 2006 have the unique opportunity to participate in the fourth annual Hockey Alberta Peewee Skills Camp.

The camp takes place in Calgary at the Cardel Rec South Arena on June 21-23. This Skills Camp will focus on skill development, checking skills, proper training techniques, and will provide athletes with information about the Team Alberta process.

RED DEER - As the regular season draws to a close, the St. Albert Slash (Midget AAA), Calgary Fire White (Midget Elite), and Calgary Fire Red (Bantam Elite) all head into the playoffs as the top seed in their respective leagues.

Slash forward Madison Willan had a terrific year as she lead the league in goals (24), assists (26), and points (50).

St. Albert’s goaltending tandem of Holly Borrett and Brianna Sank were red-hot this season. Borrett paced the league with a 0.86 GAA, and 13 wins, while adding six shutouts. Sank is right behind with a 0.86 GAA, 12 wins and leads the league with eight shutouts.

Calgary Fire Red forward Kelly Stanford took over the lead in total points with 36, while Sherwood Park’s Madison Porter ended the season as the top goal scorer with 24. Her teammate, Reagan Korber, lead the way with 16 assists.

Edmonton’s Sage Taylor lead the Bantam Elite regular season with 38 points, while Sherwood Park’s Emerson Jarvis took the goal scoring title with 24. North Central’s Jorja Nystrom lead the way with 17 assists.

After the first weekend of the playoffs, there are eight teams remaining. Sherwood Park defeated Peace Country Bonnet’s Storm in two games, while Edmonton did the same versus the St. Albert Raiders in the North division. Sherwood Park will move on to play Lloydminster and Edmonton will face the North Central Impact. In the South it was the Rocky Mountain Raiders defeating Lethbridge, and Red Deer getting past Olds. Red Deer will now face Calgary Fire Red, while the Raiders take on Calgary Fire White. All second round playoff games will take place this weekend (March 8,9,10).

RED DEER - Team Alberta is headed to the gold medal game at the Canada Winter Games after a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over BC in the semi-finals on Friday afternoon.

Scoreless through two periods, BC led the shots on goal 18-11.

Alberta’s Kassy Betinol would put Alberta on the board just 1:28 into the third period, putting a shot in the top corner on a partial break. BC would come back and get a goal of their own just under three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. With just over eight minutes remaining, BC was given a penalty shot opportunity, which ultimately resulted in no goal. No other goals were scored, and the game required overtime.

RED DEER - Team Alberta U18 Female completed their round-robin play at the 2019 Canada Winter Games with a 2-1 loss against Ontario on Tuesday night.

In a scoreless first period, Ontario led in shots on goal 10-6.

The first goal would not be notched until nearly midway through the second frame, when Ontario put home a rebound to make it 1-0. They would take that lead into the third period.

Team Ontario would take a 2-0 lead with 12:41 to go in the third period. Alberta made a push near the end when TeghanInglis scored on the power play with 1:27 remaining to make it 2-1. That goal was as close as Alberta would get, as Ontario held on for the 2-1 victory.

In her second start of the tournament, Bella McKee held down the fort for Alberta, stopping 36 of the 38 shots she faced. Ontario netminder Kayle Osborne made 20 saves for the win.

Team Alberta finished third in Pool B and will now play Manitoba in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 4pm at the Downtown Arena.

RED DEER - Team Alberta U18 Female continued their round-robin play at the 2019 Canada Winter Games with a 4-3 Shootout win against Team Nova Scotia on Monday evening.

Alberta had most of the pressure in the first period, but it was Nova Scotia who would get on the board first just 3:29 in. Aliya Jomha would respond for Alberta midway through the frame with a tip-in front of the net.

Nova Scotia would score the only goal in the second frame in what was an even period with shots finishing 9-9.

Team Alberta would tie the game at 2-2 four minutes into the third on a goal by Sarah Wozniewicz, but Nova Scotia would take the lead once again with eight minutes to go. Just 1:03 later, Danielle Serdachny would put one home on the power play to once again tie the game. The game remained tied through regulation, and the two teams headed to overtime.

A late penalty in the third period set Nova Scotia up with a 4 on 3 power play to start overtime. Alberta would kill that penalty off, and ultimately neither team would end the game in OT.

Caroline Gosling got the start for Alberta and stopped 20 of 23 shots, including six saves in overtime.

Team Alberta finishes round robin play on Tuesday night against Ontario at 730pm at the Centrium. Ontario is coming off a is coming off a 5-1 loss to BC on Sunday afternoon, and is currently ahead of Alberta by one point in Pool B.

Team Alberta kicks off play round-robin play against Team BC on Sunday at 7:30pm, with games against Nova Scotia and Ontario set for Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm, respectively. All games are at the Centrium at Westerner Park.

RED DEER - Team Alberta rebounded from an 8-4 semi-final loss with a 12-0 win over Saskatchewan Friday night to claim the bronze medal in Men’s Hockey at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

In the second matchup of the tournament between the two teams, Alberta avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Saskatchewan on Saturday.

Matt Savoie opened the scoring for Alberta late in the first period, and added two more to open the second period for a natural hat-trick. Savoie also had two assists for a five-point game, and finished the Canada Winter games with 13 points.

RED DEER - Despite a strong third period comeback attempt, Team Alberta dropped an 8-4 decision to Ontario Thursday night in the Canada Winter Games semi-final.

Ontario opened the scoring just 1:21 into the game, and would score another with 1:40 remaining in the first to take a 2-0 lead into the second period, where they would score four more to take a 6-0 lead after two.

Alberta came out hard in the third period, with four goals in a span of eight minutes from Zack Ostapchuk, Colton Dach, Matt Savoie and Tyson Laventure to make it a 6-4 game. But, Ontario halted Alberta’s charge with a powerplay goal and a shorthanded goal to make it 8-4, punching their ticket to the gold medal game against Quebec, who beat Saskatchewan 7-3 in the other semifinal matchup earlier in the day.

Drew Sim got the nod for Team Alberta, and made 18 saves on 26 shots to take the loss. Alberta heavily outshot Ontario, but Benjamin Gaudreau held down the fort for his team, stopping 40 of 44 to earn the win.

Alberta still has a shot at the podium as they draw up against Saskatchewan in the bronze medal game at 4pm on Friday at the Centrium. The live stream of the game can be found here.

RED DEER - Team Alberta punched its ticket to the semi-finals at the 2019 Canada Winter Games with an 8-3 win over New Brunswick on Wednesday night.

Alberta wasted no time in getting on the board, with Tyson Laventure opening the scoring just over three minutes into the game, but New Brunswick countered just over a minute later. Dylan Guenther regained Alberta’s lead just two minutes after that, only to have New Brunswick tie it up again 16 seconds later.

Team Alberta took the lead for good following goals from Matt Savoie and Zack Ostapchuk. New Brunswick added another goal late in the first period, but Alberta shut the door from there, and would add to their lead with second period goals from Laventure, Brett Hyland, Craig Armstrong and Savoie.

Lochlan Gordon got the start for Alberta, but gave way to Drew Sim after allowing three goals on eight shots in the first period. Sim shut the door in the second and third period, stopping all 11 shots he faced, though Gordon still earned credit for the win. New Brunswick netminder Nicholas Sheehan allowed eight goals on 35 shots through the first two periods, while Pierre-Vincent Guignard stopped all 16 shots he faced in relief in the third.

Alberta draws up against Team Ontario in the semi-finals on Thursday night, with a spot in the gold medal game on the line. Game time is 7:30pm at the Centrium in Red Deer. The live stream of the game can be found here.

The other semi-final matchup sees Quebec and Saskatchewan go head-to-head. That game goes at 4:00pm at the Centrium, the live stream can be found here.

RED DEER - After trailing Team BC most of the game, Team Alberta’s late third period charge propelled them to a 5-4 win on Monday night, securing first place in Pool B in Men’s Hockey at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Down 4-2 with less than 10 minutes to play in the third period, Alberta mounted a comeback and tied the game in the dying minutes on goals from Marc Lajoie and Zach Ostapchuk. Then, with overtime looming, Captain Sean Tschigerl stunned BC, scoring the game-winner with just 27 seconds left to play, burying a rebound off an excellent individual effort by Matt Savoie.

Team BC stormed out to a 3-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first period and one in the second, before Craig Armstrong got Alberta on the board halfway through the second frame, with Colton Dach bringing his team within one heading into the third.

But, BC regained a two goal lead just 46 seconds into the final period, setting up Alberta’s comeback.

Goaltender Drew Sim earned his first win of the tournament, stopping 27 shots for Alberta, while BC Goalie Thomas Milic made 36 saves.

With the first place finish in Pool B, Alberta will play in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Centrium at 7:30 against the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Newfoundland and New Brunswick.

RED DEER - Despite a furious comeback attempt by Manitoba, Team Alberta earned its first win at the Canada Winter Games on Sunday afternoon.

Alberta got off to a fast and furious start, scoring five straight goals in the first period, before Manitoba answered back late in the frame.

Team Alberta scored another early in the second to take a 6-1 lead, but ran into some penalty trouble, which allowed Manitoba back into the game, and drew within one with just three minutes left to play.

RED DEER - Team Alberta U16 Male opened up round-robin play at the 2019 Canada Winter Games with a 4-3 overtime loss to Saskatchewan Saturday night.

Alberta never trailed at any point, and held a lead for much of the game, but Saskatchewan wouldn’t go away.

Kai Uchacz opened the scoring for Alberta early in the first, but Saskatchewan countered just two minutes later on the powerplay. Dylan Guenther’s powerplay marker gave Alberta the lead heading into the second period, where Saskatchewan tied the game again.

Zack Stringer’s late second period goal gave Alberta the lead once more, but Saskatchewan tied the game yet again halfway through the third, before Nolan Allan sealed the victory for his team.

Goaltender Drew Sim made 18 saves for Alberta, while his counterpart Brent Mirwald stood tall to earn the win for Saskatchewan, stopping 40 of the 43 shots he faces.

Team Alberta is right back at it again Sunday afternoon against Manitoba at 4:00pm at the Centrium. The game will be shown on TSN at 5:00pm.

RED DEER - Sixteen outstanding young Albertans will hit the ice in Calgary on Saturday for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Global Girls Hockey Game.

In addition to the game itself, athletes will participate in skills clinics, visit the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and take in presentations from guest speakers.

The Global Girls Game goes at 3pm at the Flames Community Rink.

The sixteen Bantam-aged Albertans participating in the Global Game are:

NAME

POSITION

HOMETOWN

MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Sophy Aldred

Forward

Calgary

Girls Hockey Calgary

Eilis Clipperton

Forward

Calgary

Girls Hockey Calgary

Isabella Fauth

Forward

Cochrane

Cochrane

Madison Gingrich

Forward

Calgary

Girls Hockey Calgary

Cassie Guigon

Defence

Calgary

Girls Hockey Calgary

Ava Haddad

Goaltender

Rocky View County

Girls Hockey Calgary

Codi James

Defence

Castor

3Cs

Kennedy Keer

Forward

Strathmore

Strathmore

Eva Kingston

Goaltender

Lake Newell Resort

Brooks

Deanna Kwong

Forward

Calgary

Girls Hockey Calgary

Kathleen Malcolm

Forward

Edmonton

Edmonton Girls Hockey Association

Roxy Mason

Forward

Edmonton

Edmonton Girls Hockey Association

Jorianna McAlister

Forward

Okotoks

Okotoks

Ruby Polansky

Defence

Sturgeon County

St. Albert

Shayelle Robertson

Forward

Sibbald

3Cs

Mystery Shaw

Defence

Spruce Grove

St. Albert

About the Global Game

The Global Game embodies the spirit of enjoyment, teamwork, and collaborating with those from diverse backgrounds. This unique game starts on Saturday and will be played in 28 different countries before being handed off to Canada to play the final segment of the game. A cumulative score is kept across all 28 countries between Team White and Team Blue with a winner being declared after the Canadian portion of the game. The goal this game is to unite all females currently playing hockey as one global family.

"I’m honoured to be named Captain of Team Alberta, it’s super exciting, and a big opportunity, playing on home soil," said Tschigerl.

Team Alberta kicks off play round-robin play against Team Saskatchewan on Saturday at 7:30pm, with games against Manitoba and BC set for Sunday at 4:00pm and 7:30pm, respectively. All games are at the Centrium at Westerner Park.

RED DEER – A unique skill development opportunity is available to 2005-born male hockey players in Alberta, as Hockey Alberta and the Western Hockey League are co-hosting the fifth annual WHL Skills Camp.

The camp, for U15 players, is set to run June 7-9, 2019 in Calgary at East Calgary Twin Arenas. The cost of the camp is $300.

The WHL Skills Camp provides athletes with the opportunity to learn from an impressive array of instructors, including instructors from the WHL. Participants will be divided into eight teams for the weekend, and participate in a variety of activities, including:

Friday: On and Off-Ice Combine testing

Saturday: Team Alberta/WHL presentation, Yoga, and two skill sessions.

Sunday: one skill session, a dry land session and the event will wrap up with a game officiated by the WHL Officials Development Camp.

Goaltenders will also participate in an on and off-ice goaltender session.

The camp will focus on skill development and proper training techniques, and provides athletes with information about the Team Alberta process, information on the WHL, while challenging players to excel on and off the ice. The maximum capacity for the camp is 168 athletes. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please contact Dustin Moore, Coordinator, Team Alberta

About the Western Hockey League Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

RED DEER - Two outstanding post-secondary students have received Distinguished Leader status from the 2018 Future Leaders Development Program.

Brett Ponich and Jake Wozney will each receive a $3,000 scholarship for their work during the Development weekend and Team Alberta Male U16 Summer Camp in Camrose.

The Future Leaders Development Program is designed to develop and train post-secondary students in the area of coaching. Areas of focus include proper instruction, administration, leadership, technical and tactical skills in hockey, so that the future leaders can carry those skills into our communities. Scholarship opportunities are made possible by the Hockey Alberta Foundation. Since the Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1998, the Hockey Alberta Foundation has invested annually in the development of great leaders for the future of the game and our communities in Alberta.

Ponich started his playing career in the Beaumont Minor Hockey Association. He moved on to play Bantam and Midget AAA in Leduc before spending time with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, NHL’s St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets organizations. Currently, Ponich is a student-athlete for the University of Alberta - Augustana Vikings where he is working on a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree, with hopes of entering medical school after his graduation.

"The Future Leaders Program allowed me to receive structured coaching instruction that complemented my experience of playing the game," said Ponich. "I was able to not only learn more about the game of hockey, but also how to communicate and work with people better."

Wozney grew up in Richmond, BC and began playing with the Seafair Minor Hockey Association. He has been well-travelled, spending time with the Greater Vancouver Canadians, Junior B Richmond Sockeyes, BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons, and SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings. He is currently playing with the Red Deer College Kings, where he is in his second year of the Kinesiology and Sports Science Program.

"It means a lot to me that experienced coaches with Hockey Alberta can see potential in my coaching ability, even with the limited experience that I have," said Wozney. "It gives me motivation to pursue a career in coaching, as well as to continue to grow and add more tools."

Ron has coached at various levels in Wainwright for eight years, including as the head coach of the PeeWee AA Polar Kings this season. He also runs a weekly goaltending clinic, where young goalies can receive position specific instruction outside of practice. Ron has been volunteering his time towards this clinic for roughly ten years.

"My coaching philosophy includes developing the skills of all the players first, and let winning take care of itself," said Ron. "The best part about coaching is being able to teach life lessons through the game of hockey."

In the nomination for the Coach of the Month award, Ron was identified as a hardworking, dedicated coach, and a role model and mentor not just for the players, but also for the team’s young assistant coaches

"He treats all the players, parents, and opposition with respect and dignity. Ron encourages the players to have success not only on the ice, but also in the classroom and in society… Coach Ron is always giving everything for the players. It is time he is given something in return."

The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.

One minor hockey coach will be selected each month from October through March and will receive a coaching package from Players Bench Team Apparel valued at over $500, which includes a helmet, gloves, track suit, coach bag, puck bag, rink board, and coaching resources.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta would like to congratulate the seven officials selected to represent the province on the Road to Red Deer at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Referees Mason Stewart (Calgary) and Austin Weisgerber (Medicine Hat), and linesman Derek Bandstra (Calgary) will be part of the officiating crew during the male hockey competition in the first week of the Canada Games.

For the female hockey competition in week two, referees Cassandra Gregory (Edmonton) and Jessica Trombley (Sherwood Park), and linesmen Megan French (Coaldale) and Kelsey Hagan (Calgary) will all take to the ice to officiate.

Earning the opportunity to work at a national event such as the Canada Winter Games is a significant accomplishment in an official’s career, and recognizes dedication, perseverance and commitment towards officiating.

Congratulations to Hockey Calgary’s Springbank Rockies, who are one of 10 semi-finalists selected by Chevrolet in the Good Deeds Cup!

Now, it’s up to YouTube viewers across Alberta to help the Rockies reach the final three and have a chance at $100,000 for their designated charity.

From now until February 9, all 10 semi-finalist videos are available for viewing at Chevrolet Canada’s YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/user/ChevroletCanada. The three teams that receive the most views will each be eligible to win a Finalist Prize, which includes$2,000 to the team’s designated charity.

The three finalist entries then will be reviewed by a judging panel from Chevrolet and Hockey Canada, with a Good Deeds Cup champion selected and announced on February 17. The Good Deeds Cup champion receives a$100,000 cheque for its designated charity, along with prizes for individual team members.

More than 300 entries were received from Peewee teams across the country for the Good Deeds Cup.

Hockey Alberta recognizes the amazing work done by groups and individuals in the game every year through the Hockey Alberta Awards Program. All members of the hockey community in Alberta are encouraged to submit a nomination for a deserving individual or team.

There are six awards open for nominations including: Volunteer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Official of the Year, and Team of the Year. Nominations are also being accepted for the Order of Merit, which recognizes exceptional leadership and distinguished service to amateur hockey in Alberta for 10 years or more. Order of Merit may be presented for Administration, Coaching/ Development, or Officiating.

The partnership will see the production of a series of videos that will be shared with all officials in Alberta and the other Western Branches.

This is an exciting opportunity for all officials to learn from some of the best officials in the country. The link to the third video is included below, and you will receive an email from Hockey Alberta each time that a new video is available for viewing. The videos will be uploaded to Hockey Alberta’s YouTube channel, so you can always access them on your computer, tablet or mobile device.

CALGARY – The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will return to Alberta in 2019.

For the first time in the 33-year history of the event, the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge – an international showcase of the best young hockey talent in the world – will be co-hosted in a pair of Prairie provinces. Medicine Hat and Swift Current will welcome the event from Nov. 2-9.

The 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey League, as well as the cities of Medicine Hat and Swift Current, and the Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.

“Alberta has hosted a number of successful Hockey Canada events in recent history, and Hockey Alberta looks forward to ensuring the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is even more successful,” said Rob Litwinski, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Alberta. “We are thrilled to welcome the top under-17 hockey players in the world to Alberta for the first time since 2005, and to work with the host committee in Medicine Hat on this prestigious event.”

“There was a great deal of effort from many individuals to bring this event to our community, so it’s a tremendous honour to co-host with our counterparts in Swift Current,” said Ted Clugston, Mayor of Medicine Hat. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the players, their families, and hockey fans to our city, and showcasing our community and its amenities on an international scale.”

The 7,100-seat Canalta Centre will host teams and fans when the tournament returns to Alberta for the third time; Lethbridge hosted in 2005, and Red Deer in 1997.

The official tournament schedule and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

If you are unsure in which region you reside, or have any other questions, please contact Taryn Baumgardt at tbaumgardt@hockeyalberta.ca prior to registration.

2019 Alberta Challenge staff announced

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the staff for each team competing in the 2019 Alberta Challenge. A director of operations, coach mentor, head coach, and two assistant coaches were selected for each of the six teams.

The Alberta Challenge is a core Hockey Alberta Female Development program, providing players, coaches, therapists, equipment managers, administrators and referees an equal opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey.

The Alberta Challenge is held alternating years when the Alberta Winter Games are not held. The Alberta Challenge process begins in March, with players trying out at their respective regional camps. The province is divided into North and South regions, with three teams selected from each region. The six teams compete in the Alberta Challenge tournament in May.

The initiative, which partners with Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada, has seen over 620 programs delivered across the country with more than 23,000 kids trying hockey since 2014. The mission is to inspire new families to join our community and enrol their kids in our sport by making hockey accessible, affordable, and most importantly, fun!

Canadian Tire First Shift is a six-week program that focuses on having fun and learning basic skills. Full head-to-toe Bauer equipment is included with registration, which is only $199.

The application process for Minor Hockey Associations wishing to host the Canadian Tire First Shift in 2019-20 is now open by going to www.firstshift.ca/for-hosts/

Interested Minor Hockey Associations can find more information in the attached document or at www.firstshift.ca.

If you are unsure in which region you reside, or have any other questions, please contact Dustin Moore at dmoore@hockeyalberta.ca prior to registration.

2019 Peewee Prospects Cup staff announced

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the staff for each team competing in the 2019 Peewee Prospects Cup. A director of operations, coach mentor, head coach, and two assistant coaches were selected for each of the eight teams.

The Peewee Prospects Cup is the beginning of the Hockey Alberta Development program and will be held in off years of the Alberta Winter Games.

The Peewee Prospects Cup provides second-year peewee athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators an opportunity to discover the qualities of competitive hockey in a well-organized regional camp and select team competition. Athletes eligible for the Hockey Alberta Peewee Prospects Cup are male athletes who were born in 2006, and must be registered with a Hockey Canada/Hockey Alberta program.

With three children playing minor hockey in Irvine, Cam is the Assistant Coach of both the Initiation SR Bulldogs and Novice Major Bulldogs, as well as the Head Coach of the Atom B Bulldogs. This is his fifth season coaching minor hockey.

"Having the opportunity to teach a game I loved as a kid growing up is rewarding, as I get to watch the kids having fun while building character," said Cam. "I’ve learned more about the game of hockey in the last five years of coaching than I’ve learned in the last 35 years of playing."

"Cam is encouraging to every player whether they are new to hockey or not, he makes each child feel special and a valued member of the team," said the parent who nominated Cam for the Coach of the Month award. "He is equally fair to every one of them making sure they have fair playing time and equal opportunities to play every position. He is the first one at all practices and games, ensuring he is ready for the event. He is extremely knowledgeable about minor hockey and pushes the importance of practices and fun over games and winning."

"I had a number of good coaches throughout the years of playing, coaching is a avenue to give back what was given to me when I was a kid," added Cam. "I feel lucky to be part of a great association in Irvine, we have a great group of coaches, parents and an outstanding facility to play the game."

The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.

One minor hockey coach will be selected each month from October through March and will receive a coaching package from Players Bench Team Apparel valued at over $500, which includes a helmet, gloves, track suit, coach bag, puck bag, rink board, and coaching resources.

Only Hockey Canada/Hockey Alberta Registered Athletes are eligible to register.

The 2019 Alberta Cup has a new regional format of three ‘tryout’ / selection camps with each camp leading to the selection of two teams. The six teams of players will then move on to compete at the Alberta Cup tournament. This updated model establishes a better environment for providing ‘best-on-best’ competition for 14-year old players. More Information >

All regional camps will take place March 29-31 at the following locations (dates and locations subject to change):

If you are unsure in which Region you reside, or have any other questions, please contact Dustin Moore at dmoore@hockeyalberta.ca prior to registration.

2019 Alberta Cup staff announced

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the staff for each team competing in the 2019 Alberta Cup. A director of operations, coach mentor, head coach, two assistant coaches, and one trainer were selected for each of the six teams.

The Alberta Cup aids in the identification and selection of potential players for Hockey Alberta’s Team Alberta program, with hundreds of players annually trying out for 120 spots (20 positions on each of the six regional teams).

In addition to player development, the Alberta Cup also features opportunities for administrators, referees, coaches, therapists and equipment managers to be identified for potential positions at higher level events, such as the World U17 Hockey Challenge and Canada Winter Games.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to present the third installment of the Western Hockey League’s officiating partnership video series.

The partnership will see the production of a series of videos that will be shared with all officials in Alberta and the other Western Branches.

This is an exciting opportunity for all officials to learn from some of the best officials in the country. The link to the third video is included below, and you will receive an email from Hockey Alberta each time that a new video is available for viewing. The videos will be uploaded to Hockey Alberta’s YouTube channel, so you can always access them on your computer, tablet or mobile device.

*Note - Staff will be on hand to answer phone inquiries on December 27, 28 and 31, and will be monitoring email messages submitted at info@hockeyalberta.ca. Please note that every effort will be made to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible; however, due to the holiday season, longer than normal delays in responding could be possible.

Alberta’s hockey community is always at its best during the holiday season, and we’ve asked Minor Hockey Associations and teams from across Alberta to share their stories of giving back to the community with us. If you would like to share your team’s story of giving back during the holidays, please email info@hockeyalberta.ca with details and photos.

Airdrie Midget Elite Lightning

The Airdrie Midget Elite Lightning of the Alberta Female Hockey League, along with the Airdrie Female Atom teams collected donations to purchase 1,015 turkeys to donate to the Airdrie Food Bank.

Brooks Prairie Thunder Atom Female

The Brooks Prairie Thunder Atom Female team volunteered their time at a long-term care nursing home, decorating crafts and ginerbread houses with the residents, helping get them into the holiday spirit.

Duchess Minor Hockey

"Duchess Minor Hockey hosted "Hockey Day in Duchess" where all of our league teams played in a single day."

"We had a lot of fun things going on, such as a "fill the net" food bank and toy drive, a teddy bear toss, Santa selling 50/50, Christmas themed raffle items, donated baking for sale and a pancake breakfast."

"All of the proceeds from the pancakes, baking and raffle table were being given to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program, and all the teams donated their half of the 50/50 money back for this charity as well."

"It was a fantastic weekend in the spirit of the holidays, and we ended up giving 309 lbs of food to the food bank, 4 bags of teddy bears and 4 boxes of toys to the Soctiabank Smiles for Christmas program and an amazing $1600 towards the Jumpstart Program! I also found out that our local Brooks Canadian Tire is going to top up that donation by adding another $500 towards the program!"

Fort Saskatchewan Minor Hockey

"Fort Saskatchewan Minor Hockey sponsored their 5th annual "Fill the Net" campaign for our local food bank in Fort Saskatchewan. Both the Major Midget AAA Rangers and the Novice 3B Rangers co-lead the event on December 9, 2018. All home teams playing that day were encouraged to participate."

"At the end of the day, the teams gathered almost 700 lbs of food to donate! Our local midget players took time out of their Monday (which was a day off from any practice or games) to deliver the donations to the Food Bank."

Lac La Biche Bantam Clippers

The Lac La Biche Bantam Clippers held their second annual Teddy Bear Toss against Bonnyville on December 15. All teddy bears were donated to the local women’s shelter, Hope Haven, and Victim Services.

Leduc Roughnecks AtoMc 2

"The Leduc Roughnecks AtoMc 2 team this year has committed to 10 Random Acts of Kindness within our community."

"So far this year they have donated toys to Leduc Santa’s Helper, made up Christmas cards that they left out for people at the Leduc Recreation Complex & participated in the Leduc Roughneck Bantam Female’s Teddy Bear toss where they tossed teddy bears supporting the team’s event & also was able to go onto the ice to help gather and bag the bears with the Bantam Team. It’s been a great experience for the kids so far!"

Leduc Roughnecks Bantam Female

"To show our gratitude for what we have, our Bantam Female team is giving back! They are hoping to make less fortunate kids smile this Christmas! Teddy Bear Toss happened on Friday Dec.7th."

"The Teddy Bears tossed were all donated to Santa’s Helpers! The results were amazing...we ended up with 152 bears tossed."

Lethbridge Atom Yeti

"Team Yeti from the Lethbridge Atom City Division is giving back by helping out at the local soup kitchen. We’ve already done one breakfast and are planning to go back in the new year to help serve breakfast again."

"It’s a beautiful thing to hear our boys requesting to go back because they feel like they’re helping people who need it. They made breakfast, served it to the guests and cleaned up afterwards. So proud of our boys!"

Medicine Hat Atom B Kings

"Today our Atom B Kings learned a valuable lesson.... not only is coach Jason teaching them hockey skills but more important to be great citizens. These kids gave up two hours of their saturday afternoon to work kettles for the salvation army."

"The Atom B Kings would like to challenge the other Atom teams to book a shift and help the salvation army out this holiday season. We had a very proud group of parents as we left the mall this evening."

Medicine Hat Atom Hounds

"Our Atom CAHL Hounds Black gave back for Christmas this year. For their Christmas party, they Adopted a family - raising $1400 among team families to make Christmas special for a family in need."

"The boys shopped and wrapped as a team, celebrating the gifts and lessons we have been fortunate to receive through the sport we love, along with the gift of giving back."

Olds Bantam AA Grizzlys

The Olds Bantam AA Grizzlys donated toys and money the the Olds and District Christmas Angels program to give back to the community.

Onoway Minor Hockey

"A former Onoway Midget player now for the 3rd year planned and organized our Christmas showdown, collecting food bank donations as well as money and toys for the less fortunate. We were able to collect quite a haul of food and toys to share in our community! And had a fun time wearing our Christmas sweaters too! Thanks to the Edson Sabre’s for getting in the spirit and sharing too!"

Sherwood Park SP795 Atom Arrows

"It is the Christmas season, and for many, it is a time to give selflessly to others in the community. Over the past two weeks, the SP795 Atom Arrows have been busy preparing a special gift. Led by the Arrows Coach and Manager, the boys came together as a team to decorate over 100 Christmas Cookies and to practice singing Christmas Carols, with a plan to deliver their creations to local seniors. On Sunday, the entire team met at the Summerland Retirement Village, and to the delight of the residents they handed out cookies, chatted with the residents and even sang a few Christmas carols. Although the Christmas carols were a little off key, they could see the seniors dancing in their chairs, delighted to hear these boys sing. As a parent group, we feel blessed to have had a child placed on this team, to watch our boys show politeness and kindness to the residents brought tears of joy to many and made hearts sing."

"It is in the leadership and guidance of Coach Dave and Manager Erin that the Atom Arrows have been given tremendous opportunity to grow as hockey players and young adults. They have opened up their home on countless occasions and are always looking for new opportunities for the boys to grow. The boys are not only being coached to make great plays in hockey, but through the efforts of Dave and Erin they are learning life lessons, such as selflessness and the importance of giving back to our community, they are also learning what it means to be a “teammate” in a locker room of friends. Thank you, Dave and Erin, for being such a great SPMHA family. We are proud to be the Parents of an Arrow player."

Spruce Grove Peewee AA Timberwolves

"The Spruce Grove Pee Wee AA Timberwolves organized an event at two Spruce Grove vs Spruce Grove games. One of our community hockey players, Hudson Pedlar, was hospitalized with a serious illness due to influenza. He’s has a tough battle for over 6 weeks now in the hospital and will continue to have an extremely long time for therapy and healing. He is 8 years old."

"During the Pee Wee AA Game Timberwolves vs Broncos, we held a 50/50 with all profits going to #hudsonstrong. We also added it to the Bantam AA Timberwolves vs Broncos game. We raised over $1,700 and the two winners donated their winnings back to Hudson."

"We also held a Kinettes food drive during the Pee Wee game for the food bank and ended up getting over six giant bins full! It was a great day of giving back to the community, we are so proud of the players!"

St. Albert SA731 and SA 732

The St. Albert SA731 and SA732 challenged parents and fans to bring donations for the local food bank to their game.

RED DEER - With the 2019 Canada Winter Games less than two months away, the Team Alberta U16 Male and U18 Female squads will both get together in Red Deer this week for Christmas Camp.

The camp offers the chance at a special sneak-peek at both teams, as each will play a pair of exhibition games against Midget AAA or Bantam AAA teams.

The U16 Male squad will face off against the Red Deer Midget AAA Optimist Chiefs on Wednesday, December 19th at 7:30pm, and the St. Albert Midget AAA Raiders on Friday, December 21st at 2:00pm.

The U18 Female team will play the Red Deer Bantam AAA Rebels on Thursday, December 20 at 7:00pm, and the Leduc Bantam AAA Oil Kings on Saturday, December 22 at 12:30pm.

All games are at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer, and are open to the public. There is no cost to attend, but all attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Red Deer Food Bank Society, or a cash donation for the Hockey Alberta Foundation.

Your free Good Deeds Cup Team Kit has everything you need to develop your players on the ice, and create awareness off the ice, all the while reaffirming important values learned through hockey. Every kit is a premium coach’s hockey bag that comes with 10 practice pucks, 24 lace bracelets, 20 emblem stickers and 20 vehicle decals.

As well, all coaches of registered Peewee hockey teams in Canada are eligible to compete for the Good Deeds Cup. This season marks the third year of the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, during which time hundreds of good deeds have been completed by Peewee teams in communities across Alberta and the country.

The Chevrolet Hockey program seeks to inspire young Canadians to be better people by promoting the positive values learned through hockey, and acting on them by performing Good Deeds in their community. The goal is to develop our future hockey players on and off the ice. Through the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, Chevrolet makes donations to causes on behalf of Peewee Hockey teams across the country. The deadline to enter is January 2.

A limited number of kits are available, one kit per team. Don’t delay; go to chevrolethockey.ca today and register for your Good Deeds Cup Coach’s Kit.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s inaugural Female Hockey Day was an overwhelming success, with hundreds showing up to take part in the day-long celebration.

Over 160 athletes took part in activities throughout the day, which included on-ice sessions for players and officials of all levels, and off-ice sessions, such as dryland training, parent education sessions, and sport ambassador sessions.

In addition to players from Red Deer College, young athletes also had the chance to hear from a handful of players from the Calgary Inferno, who were in town to play the Toronto Furies in the first-ever Canadian Women’s Hockey League game to be played in Red Deer.

“This wasn’t just a Red Deer event it was truly a Central Alberta event,” said Kendall Newell, Hockey Alberta’s Manager, Female Hockey. “Definitely to grow the game and give it a big platform to showcase and highlight female hockey. We’ve had a strong push in our office to grow the female game and introducing it to new participants.”

The game served as the exclamation point for Female Hockey Day, and drew a crowd of over 600 fans to the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Valerie Gill, the captain of the gold medal-winning Team Alberta U18 Female squad at the 1991 Canada winter games, carried out the ceremonial puck drop before the game. One lucky athlete, Rozene Sabeti-Seidel, took to the ice with the Inferno during the pre-game skate, and stood with the team during the National Anthem - an honour she earned as the winner of the ’Experience the Dream’ contest.

Through a "chuck-a-puck" contest and a silent auction, the Hockey Alberta Foundation also raised over $1,000 for the Every Kid Every Community program during the game.

The month-long “March to a title” features provincial championship tournament action during four weekends in March and April, along with four champions crowned through league playoff series. Organizations interested in hosting a provincial championship tournament completed a detailed bid process, with a bid committee evaluating the submissions.

The 2019 Provincials wrap up with Junior B, the lone tournament running April 4-7.

The following provincial champions will be decided via league playoffs: Senior AAA, Junior A, Midget AAA, and Bantam AAA.

ATB Financial will once again headline as the presenting sponsor of the Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, continuing a long-standing relationship with Hockey Alberta.

The majority of teams competing in minor Provincial Championship tournaments qualify by winning a zone playdown. Playdowns start in mid-January across the province, with over 700 teams vying for the right to represent their zone at the provincial championships. Host teams receive an automatic berth in the championship they are hosting, although they do participate in zone playdowns, and have the opportunity to win their zone title.

Five Alberta Officials have been chosen to work the World Junior A Challenge: Referees Colin Stefanyk (Red Deer) and Kyle Kowalksi (Edmonton), and Linesmen Jason Nedinis (Calgary), Will Moss (Calgary), and Przemek Iwaniec (Calgary).

"The depth of hockey talent in this province is significant, which resulted in many difficult decisions for us," said Head Coach Bobby Fox. "Our staff is excited to work with this group of 20 players moving forward to the Canada Winter Games."

Players were selected to the shortlist based on their overall play throughout the Team Alberta scouting process, the Alberta Cup in April, and at the U16 Summer Camp in Camrose in July. Eighty players were invited to Camrose, and from the Summer Camp, a shortlist roster was established and monitored in league play during the first months of the 2018-19 season.

Since men’s hockey was first contested at the Canada Winter Games in 1967, Team Alberta owns 10 medals, including gold in 1967, 1975, 1999, and 2003. The U16 Male squad is coming off a silver medal at the most recent games in Prince George in 2015, a team that featured five recent invitees to the 2019 National Junior Team Selection Camp.

The Canada Winter Games run February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer, with the Men’s Hockey competition set for February 17-22.

The entire Team Alberta U16 Male roster will meet for Christmas Camp in Red Deer on December 19-21. The team will host two exhibition games: Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30pm versus the Red Deer Midget AAA Optimist Chiefs, and Friday, December 21 at 2:00pm against the St. Albert Midget AAA Raiders. Both games are at the Enmax Centrium, and are open to the public.

RED DEER - William (Doug) McKenzie, a Life Member of Hockey Alberta, died on Tuesday, December 4 at the age of 94.

Doug was involved with amateur hockey for more than seven decades – working at the local, regional, provincial and national levels.

His lifelong involvement with hockey began as a minor and junior player with Edmonton’s Canadian Athletic Club. After years of administrative involvement with the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association, Doug became involved with Hockey Alberta as Minor Council North Vice Chair and Vice President. Doug served as President of Hockey Alberta from 1975-80, and Past President for six years. In 1981, Doug became involved at the national level with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, serving as a Director and Senior Hockey Chair.

Doug was instrumental in building hockey relations with Japan and the Hokkaido Ice Hockey Federation. He first travelled with the University of Alberta Golden Bears to play in the Pacific Rim Tournament. This led to many exchanges with Japan and Hockey Alberta over the years. During his last trip to Japan, Doug presented the "McKenzie Friendship Cup" to the Hokkaido National Team.

Among his numerous accolades, Doug received Hockey Alberta’s President’s Award in 1981, was named a Hockey Alberta Life Member in 1992, and was inducted into both the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (1989) and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2009). As well, in 1993, the McKenzie Cup, awarded to the Alberta/British Columbia Senior AAA champion, was named in his honour.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 11 from 4-8 pm at Evergreen Funeral Home (16204 Fort Road) in Edmonton. A funeral is scheduled for Mount Zion Lutheran Church (11533-135 Street NW) in Edmonton on Wednesday, December 12 at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Zion Lutheran Church or Youth Emergency Shelter Society.

EDMONTON – The world’s best junior hockey players will be skating for gold on Alberta ice at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

From Hockey Canada:

Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), has awarded the 45th edition of the international tournament to the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer.

“To return to Alberta is an incredible opportunity for Hockey Canada and the IIHF World Junior Championship,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “The province of Alberta and the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer have a history of hosting successful, world-class events, including the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship in Red Deer, the 2012 edition of the tournament in Edmonton and the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. We are confident in this committee’s ability to successfully execute on its vision for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and we look forward to working with them to ensure we leave a lasting legacy in Alberta and across the country that helps us continue to grow and foster the game from the grassroots to elite levels.”

Smith was chair of the site-selection committee, which also included Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney, former Hockey Canada board chair Joe Drago and CHL president David Branch, and was supported by Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada as the committee’s resource staff.

Hockey Canada has played host to the IIHF World Junior Championship 12 times in the tournament’s 41-year history; the 13th IIHF World Junior Championship on Canadian ice officially kicks off this month in Vancouver and Victoria. Organizers of the 2021 tournament will take part in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship as part of the preparation and planning for Edmonton and Red Deer.

Leading the committee are Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) in partnership with the City of Edmonton, and the Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club in partnership with the City of Red Deer.

“Oilers Entertainment Group is thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with Hockey Canada, this time to help bring the IIHF World Junior Championship to Edmonton and Red Deer,” said Bob Nicholson, OEG CEO & vice chair. “We are continuing to build Edmonton’s international reputation as a destination for hockey and we know the hockey fans in our community will be excited to cheer on Team Canada on home ice.”

“On behalf of the Rebels organization, the City of Red Deer, our partners at Westerner Park and all junior hockey fans across Central Alberta, we are beyond excited to bring the IIHF World Junior Championship back to our community,” said Brent Sutter, owner, general manager and head coach of the Red Deer Rebels. “This marquee event was a game-changer for the region in 1995, and we’re sure fans from around the world will be embraced once again.”

“As a site-selection committee, finding the optimal site for the IIHF World Junior Championship is always our priority,” said Branch. As a partner, the CHL is instrumental in the hosting of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Canadian ice, sharing in the event legacy for the development of high-performance junior hockey across the country, and lending its players, coaches and support staff to participating teams. “The interest and excitement to host this special event remains high as we look to 2021 and beyond. Today is about celebrating the selection of Edmonton and Red Deer as co-hosts in 2021 and the teams, volunteers, staff and fans who will make the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria an unforgettable experience beginning later this month.”

The Government of Alberta has committed its support to the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“Alberta’s towns and cities are rich with hockey culture and our government is proud to support the 2021 World Juniors,” said the Honourable Ricardo Miranda, minister of culture and tourism for the Government of Alberta. “These championships will bring top-notch athletes and tourists from around the world to explore our beautiful province. This is an incredible opportunity for Alberta and I know co-hosting the games in Edmonton and Red Deer will be a winning combination.”

The 2021 World Juniors will be co-hosted at Rogers Place, the home of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and at the ENMAX Centrium, home of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels with regional economic impact expected to exceed $50-million.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Red Deer again after a great Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “We’re looking forward to showcasing our outstanding hosting skills as well as Edmonton’s Rogers Place and Ice District to the world. Events like this have a significant local economic impact that will benefit Edmontonians and allow them to enjoy their ongoing love for hockey.”

"World Juniors is more than a hockey tournament. It is our national tradition. Red Deer is honoured to be a partner host City for the 2020/2021 World Juniors, especially given our strong community history of hosting Juniors in 1995", said Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer. "We will build on this proud heritage with our government and hockey partners. Hockey Canada, the Oilers Entertainment Group and the Red Deer Rebels are to be applauded for the hockey and Canadian history we are writing today, and for the opportunity they have secured for us".

Tickets for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship will be available to Edmonton Oilers, Oil Kings and Rebels season-seat holders in the spring. Tickets will go on sale to the public at a later date.

A legacy plan for potential profits from the event will provide for grassroots hockey program support across the province and throughout Hockey Canada’s 13 regional members, as well as the CHL. A portion of the profits are used by the IIHF to grow the game internationally.

"Our staff is really excited about this team," said Head Coach Carla MacLeod. "It has been a process to get to this point and all the girls involved have been a pleasure to work with. The 20 girls selected are all individually skilled and driven and we are looking forward to the next step of becoming an Alberta Built team. To play at the Canada Winter Games in Alberta is an honour that we cannot wait to experience."

The 2019 U18 Female roster features six returning players from the 2017 U18 Nationals team: Kassy Betinol, Teghan Inglis, Stephanie Markowski, Jordan Mortlock, Danielle Serdachny, and Rachel Weiss. This will be the third time representing Alberta for Markowski and Weiss, who also played in the 2016 U18 Nationals.

Team Alberta is coming off a bronze medal finish in women’s hockey at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, BC, a feat also accomplished by the 1999 team in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Team Alberta is a two-time gold medalist at the Canada Winter Games, most recently in 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the inaugural gold medal in 1991 in Charlottetown, P.E.I., the first year women’s hockey was incorporated into the Games.

The Team Alberta selection process began at the Team Alberta U18 Spring Camp in May, followed by Summer Camp in July and Fall Camp in September. The Canada Winter Games run February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer, with the Female Hockey competition set for February 24 - March 2.

The roster for Team Alberta U16 Male will be announce at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 6.

RED DEER - The second month of the 2018-19 Alberta Female Hockey League is now in the books, with the Lloydminster PWM Steelers (Midget AAA), Calgary Fire White (Midget Elite), and Sherwood Park Royals (Bantam Elite) sitting atop the standings in their respective leagues.

Slash forward Madison Willan leads the league across the board, with 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points.

St. Albert’s goaltending tandem of Holly Borrett and Brianna Sank are off to red-hot starts to the season. Borrett leads the league with a 0.71 GAA and a 7-0-0 record, and sits second with three shutouts, while Sank is right behind with a 0.75 GAA and six wins, and leads all Midget AAA goaltenders with four shutouts.

With a 4-0 record with the Calgary Fire Red, Rebecca Boswell’s minuscule 0.50 GAA leads the league, while Airdrie’s Jocelynn Pearce sits atop the leaderboard with seven wins, and is tied with Calgary Fire White netminder Cienna Kinghorn with three shutouts.

With 12 goals and 19 points, Lloydminster’s Lana Duriez leads the league in both categories, while North Central’s Jorja Nystrom leads all Bantam Elite skaters with 10 assists.

Asia Kachuk sits atop the league with a 0.71 GAA, while her Sherwood Park teammate Teegan Fedoruk leads the league with four shutouts. Lloydminster’s Tiana Stafford is tops in Bantam Elite with six wins.

A former Canadian Women’s Hockey League player, Danielle has been coaching since 2009, and currently coaches both the Stettler Novice Green and Stettler Novice Mites Grey teams. She also serves as the Registrar for Stettler Minor Hockey.

In addition to hockey, Danielle coaches baseball, soccer and lacrosse.

"I love passing my love of sports and activity onto the kids," she said. "Seeing them excel and improve is amazing especially with how far they come from the beginning of the year to the end at the younger ages."

"Danielle supports each player and encourages them beyond any parent expectation,’ said the parent who nominated Danielle. "Her guidance and skill is remarkable, quite likely the best coach my child will ever be lucky enough to work with."

Hockey Alberta is proud to recognize Danielle for her effort and accomplishments ahead of Female Hockey Day. Hockey Alberta is celebrating all aspects of female hockey on Saturday, December 15 in Red Deer with a day full of on and off-ice activities for players, coaches, officials, and parents of all levels.

The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.

One minor hockey coach will be selected each month from October through March and will receive a coaching package from Players Bench Team Apparel valued at over $500, which includes a helmet, gloves, track suit, coach bag, puck bag, rink board, and coaching resources.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta welcomed three new members to the Board of Directors on Saturday at the organization’s 111th Annual General Meeting.

Michael Bates of Cochrane, Francois Gagnon of Fort McMurray, and Wilson Gemmill of Grande Prairie were elected as new Directors at Large. A total of six individuals let their names stand for election for three positions.

HOCKEY ALBERTA AWARDS

Prior to the AGM, six individuals, one team, and two minor hockey associations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to hockey in Alberta, as the 2018 Hockey Alberta Awards, sponsored by BFL Canada, were presented.

The Hockey Alberta Awards program was restructured this year to include awards that are open to nominations from Hockey Alberta member organization, staff member or volunteer, and others that are determined by Hockey Alberta through a review of eligible candidates.

The 2018 Hockey Alberta Award recipients are:

Order of Merit: Debbie Northcott (Caroline) and Brenda Dyck (Edmonton). A maximum of two awards presented to recognize exceptional leadership and distinguished service to amateur hockey in Alberta for 10 years or more. Recipients have dedicated significant effort, time, and leadership to growing and/or developing amateur hockey, not only in their own community, but across the Province.

Coach of the Year: Kyle McLaughlin (Canmore). Presented to a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.

Official of the Year: Chad Huseby (Red Deer). Presented to an official who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.

Team of the Year: St. Albert Slash Midget Female AAA. Presented to recognize a Team’s significant achievements, performances and contributions within amateur hockey during the current season.

RED DEER – Hockey is changing, but more importantly, the kids who play it are changing.

And these changes have a significant impact on the role of minor hockey coaches and administrators.

Change, and its impact on the sport of hockey, was one of the themes stressed by Allyson Tufts, in her keynote address Friday night to open the 111th Annual General Meeting weekend for Hockey Alberta.

“When you talk about the game changing, you need to remember our youth is changing. So, if you start to see something funny with one of the kids, you don’t need to fix it, but you need to recognize it and tell somebody. It’s important,” said Tufts.

Tufts is a hockey mom from eastern Ontario who, in 2015, wrote about her experiences in a book entitled “Lessons from Behind the Glass.” Since then, she has worked with Hockey Canada and BC Hockey, and toured with former CFLer Mike ’Pinball’ Clemons and former NHL goalie Kirk Maclean, talking about creating a better atmosphere for young athletes.

In her presentation to more than 100 minor hockey association representatives and Hockey Alberta volunteers, Tufts reminded them of the key role they play in the development of our youth.

“When you think of you all here as volunteers, on a Friday night, in crappy weather, if you don’t think what you do is important, you are so wrong. What you do matters, and it matters for our youth,” said Tufts. “Our youth needs hockey, it needs sports, and it needs to learn how to be resilient.”

Tufts reflected on what her son gained from hockey while he was a player - integrity, strength, friendship and resilience.

“We didn’t teach him that, hockey did,” Tufts said.

And in this digital age of cell phones and social media, the hockey rink has emerged as the new “safe house” for our youth – where the phone is put away, and there is an opportunity for adults to talk and be heard.

“The one place where you can have influence is in the dressing room, in the arena. When they are on the ice, they’re there doing something they love,” Tufts said. “And we need to use the moments with them, when they’re listening, and they’re not on their phones, and they’re in the dressing room, to teach them to be strong good individuals, as well as good players.”

For more information on Allyson Tufts, go to her website: lessonsfrombehindtheglass.com.

The AGM weekend continues on Saturday at Red Deer College. In the morning, minor hockey association executive members will participate in a session with representatives from Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada. The focus is on building a new national direction, and resetting the focus of hockey in Alberta by building a plan that develops players, grows the game and educates parents. In the afternoon, Hockey Alberta Awards will be presented, followed by the AGM itself starting at 2:30 pm.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to present the second installment of the Western Hockey League’s officiating partnership video series.

The partnership will see the production of a series of videos that will be shared with all officials in Alberta and the other Western Branches.

This is an exciting opportunity for all officials to learn from some of the best officials in the country. The link to the first video is included below, and you will receive an email from Hockey Alberta each time that a new video is available for viewing. The videos will be uploaded to Hockey Alberta’s YouTube channel, so you can always access them on your computer, tablet or mobile device.

RED DEER - Allyson Tufts, author of Lessons from Behind the Glass, will serve as the keynote speaker on Friday night for the 2018 Hockey Alberta Annual General Meeting.

A book designed specifically for parents with a child in organized sports, Lessons from Behind the Glass outlines the ups and downs that come from being a hockey parent, based on Tuft’s first-hand experience as a hockey mom.

"If I could go back and do all these things differently, I would’ve," said Tufts in a promotional video for the book. "So, in realizing I couldn’t, I thought the best way to deal with it was to write something to help other people."

Since the launch of her book in April 2015, Tufts has seen great success, selling thousands of copies across Canada and the United States. She’s been on an exciting speaking tour, presenting along side Tom Renney, the President of Hockey Canada, Pinball Clemons, CFL football star and motivational speaker and Kirk MacLean former NHL goalie. Allyson continues to spread her message to parents about creating a better atmosphere for our young athletes in whatever sport they choose.

Tufts will kick off the 2018 AGM weekend by speaking to the 100-plus delegates from Hockey Alberta’s member organizations from across province about her book, and the lessons stemming from it.

MHAs and club teams still have time to sign up for the Hockey Alberta AGM, which runs Friday and Saturday in Red Deer. Registration information and AGM details can be found on hockeyalberta.ca.

RED DEER - Parents are integral part of the minor hockey system, and are a key to ensuring that their children have the opportunity to play hockey.

Parents have many roles for their children, teams, and teammates. Depending on the day, a parent can be a supporter, advocate, chauffeur, equipment manager, or dietician, making sure that their children can experience and have fun participating in the sport of hockey.

Hockey Alberta has a new set of resources designed to support and assist our parents in providing the most positive experience for your young players.

Information available on the Parents tab includes articles from various publications, tips from experts in areas such as nutrition, and updates from Hockey Alberta. Parents are encouraged to check back regularly to see new information as it is added.

RED DEER - Registration is now open for Hockey Alberta’s inaugural Female Hockey Day, Saturday, December 15 – with everything happening at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer.

The day will feature on and off-ice development sessions for players, coaches, and officials – all to celebrate female hockey. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join. To help us celebrate, and to conclude a full day of Female Hockey Day activities, the Calgary Inferno will host the Toronto Furies in a Canadian Women’s Hockey League game.

Player Development sessions are ongoing throughout Female Hockey Day, including on and off-ice instruction for current female players at all levels, from Intro to Hockey (Initiation and Novice) to Midget. Player Development sessions have a registration fee of $15 per participant, which includes a ticket to the Inferno/Furies game.

There will also be Try Hockey sessions offered for both youth and adult females who are looking to play hockey for the first time. Comrie’s Sports Equipment Bank will be on site to outfit all new players with equipment, and to accept donations of the following new or gently used equipment:

In conjunction with the CWHL Game, a Game Day Speaker Series is being hosted for all coaches involved in female hockey, which includes a seminar, a ticket to the Inferno/Furies game, and a de-brief after the game. Registration for the Game Day Speaker Series is $15 per person.

Additional tickets for the CWHL game are available for purchase online, or at the door at $15 each (plus GST).

Experience the Dream Contest

Hockey Alberta invites YOU to enter the Experience the Dream contest for a chance to skate with the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League!

The Inferno will battle the Toronto Furies during Female Hockey Day on Saturday, December 15 in Red Deer, and one winner will be chosen to join them on ice during the warm-up and National Anthem.

To enter, tell us who your female role model is (hockey or non-hockey related) in a paragraph or short essay, outlining why you look up to them. Please also include a photo or drawing of your female role model.

The deadline for submissions is Sunday, December 2 at 11:59 p.m. (MT).

*The Experience the Dream contest is open to female residents of Alberta under the age of 18. By entering this contest, you agree to travel to Red Deer on December 15*

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the 2019 Alberta Challenge will be hosted in Leduc.

The Leduc Recreation Centre is the host site for the event, set for May 1-5.

“We are excited to bring the Alberta Challenge to Leduc, a city where female hockey continues to thrive,” said Kendall Newell, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Female Hockey. “Hockey Alberta is excited to be able to showcase the best of Bantam Female Hockey to the Capital Region”

As noted in the City’s bid, Leduc has successfully hosted a wide variety of provincial and international sporting events, including the 2016 Alberta Summer Games.

Regional Camps for the 2019 Alberta Challenge are set for April 5-7 in Fort Saskatchewan (North) and Cochrane (South). Registration for Regional Camps opens in January.

He’s been coaching for 7 years, and is also a Head Coach with Northwest Little League Baseball.

"I most enjoy seeing kids develop their skills as players and people," said Cavanagh. "Coaching provides an opportunity to pass on a love for the game. I also enjoy working with the other coaches to help athletes realize their potential. My coaching philosophy is to promote an atmosphere of hard work, respect for others, team play and fun. When we achieve that, success can come in many ways."

"Dan is a phenomenal coach who is knowledgeable, level-headed and inclusive," said one of Dan’s fellow coaches, who nominated him for the award. "He coaches or assistant coaches in three different levels of hockey for Crowfoot! I have coached with him for three years and he rarely misses an event. Dan Cavanagh is an asset to the Crowfoot Hockey organization!"

The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.

One minor hockey coach will be selected each month from October through March and will receive a coaching package from Players Bench Team Apparel valued at over $500, which includes a helmet, gloves, track suit, coach bag, puck bag, rink board, and coaching resources.

The Alberta Cup runs April 24-28 in Red Deer, and provides players, coaches, therapists, equipment managers, administrators and on-ice officials an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey.

Hockey Alberta’s Provincial Championships are some of the most exciting and high-profile events in which Hockey Alberta’s membership takes part each season, bringing together the top teams from across the province in each category.

The 2019 Provincial Championships will be held March 14-17, March 21-24 and March 28-31, in each of the respective categories.

The bid guidelines document outlines the requirements involved, and the opportunities available, for a Minor Hockey Association interested in submitting a bid to host a Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship event.

The deadline to submit a bid to host Provincial Championships is November 15.

CALGARY - The Western Hockey League announced today the WHL and Hockey Alberta have extended their current partnership agreement through the 2020-21 season. The new three-year partnership agreement will encompass the current 2018-19 season along with the upcoming 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

The agreement includes the WHL continuing to be a major sponsor of Hockey Alberta’s High Performance Programs and the Alberta Cup. Within the partnership, Hockey Alberta will continue to recognize the WHL as an official partner in Hockey Alberta’s Male Alberta Development Model, which includes the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League and the Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League. The WHL will also continue as an official sponsor of other grassroots development programs.

“The WHL is very proud to continue serving as a major supporter of Hockey Alberta’s high performance and minor hockey system,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “We are committed to assisting Hockey Alberta with the growth and development of the game throughout the province.”

“We have worked collaboratively with the Western Hockey League for several years to provide many positive development opportunities for players throughout the minor hockey system,” said Rob Litwinski, Hockey Alberta’s CEO. “We look forward to continuing this work for the benefit of players throughout the minor hockey system.”

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

About Hockey Alberta

Hockey Alberta is the Provincial Sports Organization and governing body for organized amateur hockey in the Province of Alberta. Hockey Alberta’s Vision is Hockey for Life, and Hockey Alberta encourages participation on both a competitive and recreational level for those who enjoy hockey for the sportsmanship, skill and enjoyment it can provide. Hockey Alberta’s Regional Centre network includes offices in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge. In 2017-18, there were more than 105,000 registered participants, including more than 86,000 players in Alberta.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta and the Alberta Junior Hockey League are pleased to announce the AJHL Game Day Speaker Series is returning for the 2018-19 season, with Finning Canada as the new presenting sponsor.

Coaches of all levels are invited join us for a game in a city near you, and have the opportunity to listen to both the home and visiting team coaches speak before and after the game. Fran Gow, Hockey Alberta’s Provincial Coach Mentor will also provide a Professional Development session for Coaches before each game on a variety of topics.

The 2019 Peewee Prospects Cup runs May 8-12 in Lethbridge, and provides players, coaches, therapists, equipment managers, administrators and on-ice officials an opportunity to discover the great qualities of competitive hockey.

Regional camps run April 12-14, locations TBD. Player registration for regional camps will open in January.

For more information on the 2019 Peewee Prospects Cup, please contact Dustin Moore, Coordinator, Team Alberta Male at dmoore@hockeyalberta.ca

Your free Good Deeds Cup Team Kit has everything you need to develop your players on the ice, and create awareness off the ice, all the while reaffirming important values learned through hockey. Every kit is a premium coach’s hockey bag that comes with 10 practice pucks, 24 lace bracelets, 20 emblem stickers and 20 vehicle decals.

As well, all coaches of registered Peewee hockey teams in Canada are eligible to compete for the Good Deeds Cup. This season marks the third year of the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, during which time hundreds of good deeds have been completed by Peewee teams in communities across Alberta and the country.

The Chevrolet Hockey program seeks to inspire young Canadians to be better people by promoting the positive values learned through hockey, and acting on them by performing Good Deeds in their community. The goal is to develop our future hockey players on and off the ice. Through the Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup, Chevrolet makes donations to causes on behalf of Peewee Hockey teams across the country.

A limited number of kits are available, one kit per team. Don’t delay; go to chevrolethockey.ca today and register for your Good Deeds Cup Coach’s Kit.

RED DEER - As outlined in Hockey Alberta Information Bulletin 18:05, there are three (3) positions of Director at Large up for election to the Hockey Alberta Board at the 2018 Hockey Alberta Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 24 in Red Deer.

Each successful candidate will be elected to serve a term of three (3) years.

The individuals listed in the information bulletin have filed a proper nomination application with the Nominations Committee.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is proud to recognize the four officials selected to represent the province on the national and international stage this season.

Referee Taylor Burzminski (St. Albert) has been assigned to Hockey Canada’s officiating team for the 2018 World Under-17 Challenge, which runs November 3-10 in Saint John/Quispamsis, New Brunswick.

Internationally, linesman Cody Huseby (Red Deer) is one of 23 Canadian officials selected for IIHF championships in 2018-19. Huseby will work the Group A games at the World Under-20 Division II Championships in Estonia, January 13-19.

Referee Fraser Lawrence (Edmonton) will also officiate at the IIHF World Championships in Division III in Iceland, January 14-20.

On the female side, referee Lacy Senuk (St. Albert) is doubling up this season, as she will work both the 2018 4 Nations Cup November 6-10 in Saskatoon, and the IIHF Women’s World Championship April 4-14 in Finland.

"A national or international assignment is the ultimate goal for an amateur official," said Craig DeCoursey, Chair of the Hockey Alberta Official’s Committee. "The selection of these four officials is a reflection of their commitment, dedication, and perseverance in their field. Not only are they leaders on the ice in Alberta, but their participation off the ice in supervision, mentorship and develepment programs makes their selection even more rewarding."

RED DEER - Registration is now open for Dodge Caravan Kids for Novice teams across Alberta.

The Dodge Caravan Kids Program is a joint effort between participating minor hockey associations and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram retailers that provides up to $500 in funding and access to exclusive hockey benefits to novice level hockey teams across Canada.

The goal of the Dodge Caravan Kids Program is to help enrich the game of hockey for participating coaches, players and their families and represents one of FCA Canada’s key community efforts.

Friday night features a pair of Midget Elite games, with the Rocky Mountain Raiders taking on the Sherwood Park Fury, and Airdrie Lightning visiting the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs. Saturday sees five more games, with four more set for Sunday in a busy opening weekend.

On the Bantam Elite side, 10 of 12 teams kick their seasons off on Saturday, while the Calgary Fire Red and Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs will wait until the following weekend for their seasons to begin.

You can keep track of all the action on each league’s website, or by following the AFHL on Twitter.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s 111th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24 in Red Deer.

The meeting will consist of presentations, information seminars and discussion forms for Executive Members of Minor Hockey Associations, Sports Schools and Junior/Senior Club Teams, as well as Executive Members of our sanctioned leagues.

Attending the AGM is important for your organization - to exercise your right to vote in the election and for Notices of Motion, and to participate in discussions about the future of the game.

Hockey Alberta is challenging the membership to make this our best-attended Annual General Meeting weekend ever. Friday evening features a special presentation, trade show and networking social. Saturday opens with a series of President Meetings followed by the Awards Presentations and Annual General Meeting.

In addition to the meetings, we are hosting our first ever ‘Every Kid, Every Community Cup’. In partnership with NHL Alumni and other special guests, we are inviting Executive members from member organizations to participate in a game of shinny in the new Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. Space in the game is limited to the first 40 participants to sign up. More information and a registration link for the ‘Every Kid, Every Community Cup’ will be circulated in the coming weeks.

Hockey Alberta has partnered with the Best Western Hotel and the Sheraton Red Deer Hotelto provide the best possible rates for accommodations. Please book your accommodations as soon as possible to access these rates. If you are booking by phone, please indicate you are with the Hockey Alberta Annual General Meeting.

Information regarding Nominations for the Board of Directors and potential Notices of Motion will be circulated no less than thirty (30) days prior to the AGM. Please note that Member Dues for the 2018-2019 season and any overdue accounts must be paid in full for Members to be eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Please refer to Article 4, 4.6 (b) of the Hockey Alberta Bylaws and Regulations for information about voting privileges/procedures.

Boston Pizza and Bauer are excited to once again partner with Hockey Canada to give young Canadians the opportunity to get into the game on a global level and show their creativity through the Design-A-Mask program.

Guests of the restaurant are invited to design a goalie mask featuring the Hockey Canada logo and a Canadian theme. Two winners will be chosen, one in the under-13 category and one in the 13-to-18 category. The masks designed by the winner will be worn by Canada’s National Junior Team goaltenders during the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, December 26, 2018 to January 5, 2019 in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.

In addition to having their designs featured on a global stage, both winners will also receive a trip for two to a game at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship along with a $50 Boston Pizza gift card, a Team Canada jersey, and their own painted mask autographed by Team Canada.

The contest closes November 7th, 2018. Head to your closest Boston Pizza to get your contest colouring sheet and submit your design to any participating Boston Pizza restaurant, email to bpdesign@hockeycanada.ca or mail to:

RED DEER - The Paralympic Sports Association has started a new Sledge Hockey Program for Central Alberta. The program, operating in Red Deer, is available for participants of all ages looking to learn and improve their sledge hockey skills. The program will run out of the GH Dawe Arena on Fridays and the Kinex Arena on Sundays. Sleds and sticks are provided.

This program is open to all ages and abilities wanting to learn and play sledge hockey! Learn the basics and participate in drills and scrimmages. The program runs from October- March on Friday and Sunday evenings (please refer to schedule for exact dates- it is not a weekly program). The program will run out of the GH Dawe Arena on Fridays and the Kinex Arena on Sundays. Sleds and sticks are provided. Please bring your own protective equipment.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to once again partner with the Western Hockey League to bring the WHL Game Day Coach Series back for the 2018-19 season.

Hockey Alberta and the WHL invite you to join us for a game in a city near you, and have the opportunity to listen to both the home and visiting team coaches speak before and after the game. Fran Gow, Hockey Alberta’s Provincial Coach Mentor will also provide a Professional Development session for Coaches before each game on a variety of topics.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the 2019 Peewee Prospects Cup will take place in Lethbridge, May 8-12.

The 2017 edition of the tournament was played in Lethbridge as well. The 2019 event will be played at the ATB Centre.

"The 2017 Peewee Prospects Cup in Lethbridge could not have gone better, so we’re very excited to return in 2019," said Dustin Moore, Coordinator, Team Alberta Male. "When the opportunity came about to host the tournament there again, we immediately jumped on it."

Coach applications are now being accepted for the Peewee Prospects Cup as well. The application deadline is November 9.

The 2019 Peewee Prospects Cup features 2006-born male players, and begins with four regional camps in April, designed to allow athletes, coaches and trainers to show their skills and receive top-level instruction and evaluation. The top 40 athletes from each regional camp (two teams from each camp), six coaches, two coach mentors and two directors of operations will be selected to participate in the Hockey Alberta Peewee Prospects Cup competition.

If you have any questions about the Peewee Prospects Cup, please contact Dustin Moore, Coordinator, Team Alberta Male, at dmoore@hockeyalberta.ca

RED DEER - Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney discusses the important of half-ice at the Intro to Hockey level, and the efforts being made in Alberta to ensure everyone’s first hockey experience is an enjoyable one.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the Alberta Cup will be hosted in the City of Red Deer in 2019 and 2020.

The new Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre is the host location for the event. The 2019 event will be held April 24-28.

“We are excited to host the Alberta Cup in our new home at Red Deer College," said Rob Litwinski, Hockey Alberta CEO. "Part of the vision we’ve had for this facility was the ability to host signature regional, provincial, national hockey events in this location, and the Alberta Cup is a major Provincial Event. We look forward to working with our Host Committee, the community and region, and partners like the WHL to make the Alberta Cup a great success in 2019 and 2020.”

The Alberta Cup is a significant step in the identification and evaluation process for Team Alberta’s U16 Male provincial team. It is also the final opportunity for Western Hockey League scouts to evaluate players eligible for the WHL bantam draft.

As part of a busy week of hockey, the WHL Awards and Bantam Draft will be held in Red Deer in the days following the Alberta Cup in both 2019 and 2020.

“As a longstanding partner of Hockey Alberta and a major supporter of the Alberta Cup, the WHL is delighted that this event will be held in Red Deer in 2019 and 2020,” said Ron Robison, WHL Commissioner . “With our WHL Awards and Bantam Draft also being held in conjunction with the Alberta Cup, it promises to be an exciting week for hockey enthusiasts of all ages in Red Deer.”

Regional Camps for the 2019 Alberta Cup are set for March 29-31, locations TBD. Registration for Regional Camps will open in January.

The Alberta Cup also provides coaches, therapists, equipment managers, administrators and officials the opportunity to be identified for potential positions at higher level events such as the Western Challenge, World U17 Hockey Challenge and Canada Winter Games. Alberta Cup Coach and Trainer applications will be open next week.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting nominations for Coach of the Month for the 2018-19 minor hockey season!

Coaches are an integral part of minor hockey and their countless hours and dedication provide the opportunity for over 60,000 kids in Alberta to play hockey. Help us recognize a coach in your community by nominating him or her for the Hockey Alberta Coach of the Month!

Fall camp consists of three exhibition games for the Team Alberta hopefuls; one against the St. Albert Bantam AAA Raiders, two against the University of Alberta Pandas. The full schedule can be found below:

Welcome to the start of a new hockey season! 2018-19 marks the 111th season of Hockey Alberta as the governing body of amateur hockey in this Province. Each of these years comes with the same new sense of excitement for all of us involved in the game. As the new season begins, we would like to outline important changes, including regulation and playing rule revisions. It also highlights initiatives and programs both new and continuing that Hockey Alberta offers to facilitate growth for our minor hockey associations, along with players, coaches, officials and parents.

As our organization continues to strive towards our vision of “Hockey For Life”, we owe gratitude to our volunteers for continuing to push our game forward. Each year hockey is driven by the countless volunteers giving back thousands of hours to the game across the Province for all ages and levels of hockey. Thank you to our stakeholders who help make each season successful. We are excited to work on our new initiatives this season and tackle the challenges in front of us. Our entire organization is excited to execute the following initiatives, which focus on key stakeholders in the game who help lead to the positive hockey experience we want everyone to have.

To create new opportunities, and continue the existing ones within our Alberta Coach Development plan. A plan that is implemented province wide to improve leadership and educational opportunities for Alberta coaches

To continue the alignment of Alberta’s Officiating Model

To advance our Alberta ONE hockey system alignment model to provide consistent operations in leagues and associations; and the review of Provincial Championship format

To launch the Parent Engagement Strategy, which will include resources to assist us to be better sport parents

To further the Member Standards Model which is a dedicated program to help guide, serve and develop all aspects of our members

To continue, in partnership with the Hockey Alberta Foundation, finding new ways to add resources to growing the game and finding ways to enhance the opportunities for more Albertans to experience hockey and stay in the game

This season also marks two unique events for Hockey Alberta. We enter the first season in our new home inside the beautiful Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre located in Red Deer College. We are very excited for the opportunities this facility brings for Hockey Alberta. This season will also see Alberta, and host city Red Deer, welcome the nation as host of the Canada Winter Games. This is the first time since 1995 it has been hosted in our province.

I would like to personally extend well wishes to everyone across Alberta and hope that you all have a memorable hockey experience as we enter another season. We look forward to being with you every step of the way.

Yours in hockey,Rob Litwinski, CEO

REGULATION AMENDMENTS

Hockey Alberta has implemented a number of regulation amendments for the 2018-19 season for the following areas:

Hockey Alberta offers a variety of Coach Clinics targeted to the age and level of athletes coaches are leading. View Clinics >

MHAs and Club Teams must ensure that all teams and/or groups meet the requirements outlined by Hockey Alberta before November 15. Any team/group that does not meet the requirements outlined within the Hockey Alberta Regulations is not eligible to participate in sanctioned hockey games. Coach Requirements >

OFFICIATING

Fall is an important time of year for Officials in Alberta. Clinic season is in full swing and Hockey Alberta offers a number of officiating clinics throughout the province. For a listing of these clinics, please visit Hockey Canada’s EHOCKEY website.

*Please note that Hockey Canada has made rule changes for the 2018 season forward to improve the game for all participants. More Information >

Hockey Alberta’s Intro to Hockey Model, for all players aged 5-8 years, will be in effect for the 2019-20 season. It replaces previous models and programming at the Novice and Initiation levels. However, Minor Hockey Associations can opt to make the switch, or undertake a transition process, during the 2018-19 season. More Information >

FEMALE HOCKEY DAY

Mark your calendars! December 15 will mark the inaugural Female Hockey Day. Hosted in Red Deer, the day will feature on and off-ice development sessions for players, coaches, and officials – all to celebrate female hockey! More details will be released shortly, but to help us celebrate, the Calgary Inferno will be facing off against the Toronto Furies at 7:00 p.m. in CWHL action! All ages and skill levels are welcome to join! We hope you can help us circle the date on the calendar and plan on being in Red Deer to show the hockey World #WhyWePlay!

WE HAVE MOVED

Photo credit: Red Deer College

Hockey Alberta has completed the transition to our new home in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at Red Deer College. While our phone numbers remain the same, the mailing address/directions to our office are now different. More Information/How to reach us >

RED DEER - September 15 & 16 marked the start of the 2018-2019 Sledge Hockey season with an enthusiastic group of players and coaches conjugating in Calgary for a weekend filled with sledge specific programs and events.

A Coach 2 - Coach Level clinic saw 13 coaches deepen their knowledge of the game while 22 players took part in a Sledge Hockey Player Development Camp that included a one hour skill session and two game play sessions.

The clinic and development camp were both run by Canada’s Women’s National Para-Ice Hockey team Head Coach, Tara Chisholm, and included guest coaches Monica Sparling, Steph Leslie and Geneva Coulter.

The Respect in Sport program is an online certification program designed to protect our youth as well as enhance Hockey Alberta’s mandate of providing a safe and fun environment for all of our participants. Respect in Sport is Canada’s leading online bullying, abuse, harassment, and negligence prevention program for parents, coaches, and community leaders.

Before a child steps onto the ice, Hockey Alberta requires at least one parent complete the RIS program. After completing the program, the parent will receive an RIS number. The parent must provide this RIS number to the team coach or manager before the first practice date. If a parent registers more than one child for hockey, all children must be registered with that RIS number.

Hockey Alberta also requires Parents and Coaches/Team Officials to recertify their Respect in Sport every four seasons.

To help with the process, an RIS FAQ has been compiled and can be found on the Hockey Alberta website. If you need help accessing your account, you MUST contact the Respect Group Helpdesk by phone: 1-866-945-9906 or Email rgihelp@respectgroupinc.com

A two-time Olympic gold medallist and the only coach to earn membership in the IIHF Triple Gold Club, Mike Babcock is a strong proponent of half-ice hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach talks about the importance of the added puck touches, the need for games on the smaller ice to advance skills, and the challenges of embracing change and reinventing the game at the grassroots to maximize development.

RED DEER – Who will comprise the 2019 induction class for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF)?

Is there a member of the Alberta hockey community who should join the AHHF, alongside the members of the 2018 Induction Class – Grant Fuhr, Mike Vernon, Ron Maclean, Wally Kozak, 1991 Team Alberta Female and 1999 Team Alberta Male (Canada Winter Games champions).

Nominations are now open for the 2019 AHHF Induction Class. A maximum of seven inductees will be recognized, including up to six individuals and/or two teams or groups. Nominations are sought from members of the public to recognize:

individuals who have made a significant contribution to the game of hockey in Alberta through regional, national, or international accomplishments, or for their contributions to the growth and development of the game in Alberta.

groups or teams who achieved a significant result at a National or International level or impacted on a provincial level under exceptional circumstances.

Made a significant impact to hockey during their time as an Alberta resident, having resided in Alberta for at least five years

Exceptional service or contribution to the game of hockey in Alberta or at a national or international level

Achieved significant personal, team and or professional accomplishment in the game

Made an impact in the game beyond a local or regional level

Received significant other recognition (i.e. inducted into the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame, Hockey Hall of Fame, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, won a national or international medal or championship, major individual award)

For the 2019 inductions, the nomination period has changed. Nominations are now being accepted until the closing date of November 30. Nominations are submitted through the online nomination forms found on the new Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame website (ahhf.ca).

The 2019 AHHF Induction Class will be announced early in the new year, with the inductees recognized at the annual special gala event held in Canmore in late July.

For more information on the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, including biographies of all Honoured Members, check out the new AHHF website.

Hockey Alberta is kicking off the 2018-19 season with a two-day Sledge Hockey Player Development Camp at WinSport in Calgary on September 15 & 16. Designed to accommodate players of all ages and skill levels, this camp will feature a unique combination of on-ice skill development and game-play sessions for new and returning sledge hockey players.

The camp will be led by the Canada’s Women’s National Para-Ice Hockey team Head Coach, Tara Chisholm. With a Masters in Adapted Physical Activity, Tara is a part-time Kinesiology instructor at Medicine Hat College and is very passionate about teaching and truly understanding what skills are required in sledge hockey while at the same time making sure the players are having fun!

Players attending this camp will receive:

1 on-ice skill development session

2 on-ice game-play sessions

Lunch on Sunday

Hockey Alberta jersey

Participant gift

Cost: $69 per player

Location: WinSport - 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary

Schedule: A full schedule will be emailed to registered players one (1) week prior to camp.

Registration check-in will take place on Saturday, September 15 starting at 3:30 PM with the on-ice skill development session to follow, wrapping up around 7:30 PM.

Game play sessions will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 15.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is seeking qualified candidates to fill three Director at Large vacancies on its Board of Directors.

Candidates interested in serving as a Director should have a passion for the sport of hockey. Previous experience on a not-for-profit board and knowledge of the workings of a board from a good governance perspective are preferred. An ICD (Institute of Corporate Directors) designation or equivalent training or experience working with a Board would be considered an asset. Experience and understanding of the workings of a Provincial Sport Organization is an asset, as is expertise in Human Resources, Marketing, Public Relations or Lobbying.

Directors serve three-year terms on the Board. The Board meets in person six times annually in Red Deer, holds a monthly conference call and attends various events throughout the year.

Nominations are being accepted until September 10, and all candidates must be nominated by a Member of Hockey Alberta (membership is defined in Article 2 of the Bylaws of Hockey Alberta). More information can be found below:

Office Hours

RED DEER - As the Hlinka Gretzky Cup continues in Edmonton this weekend, Hockey Alberta is offering numerous events to promote player, coach and official development, in conjunction with the Centre ICE Summit.

The weekend kicks off with the Alberta Built Coach Seminar, which runs all day Friday and Saturday at MacEwan University. The seminar is a rare opportunity for more than 100 Alberta coaches to participate in presentations from top level coaches, and internationally-renowned experts in the fields of coaching and player development. The list of presenters includes: Todd McLellan and Glen Gulutzan (Edmonton Oilers); Paul Dennis (University of Toronto); John Dunn (University of Alberta); Dr. Stephen Norris (iMobius Ingenuity Inc); Richard Monette (Active for Life); and panel discussions, including an IIHF panel with guest speakers from Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland.

Friday afternoon and evening features a special development opportunity for Hockey Alberta officials. The event features a 90-minute on-ice session led by Dave Smith, the NHL Officials Director of Fitness. Also included is a 60-minute classroom session with presentations from Hockey Alberta, the WHL, and other guest presenters.

On Saturday and Sunday, player development will take centre stage as Hockey Alberta, in partnership with the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), will host the first ever Summer ICE Jamboree for novice players. The event, open to any players born in 2010 and 2011, will be structured according to Hockey Alberta’s new Intro to Hockey model which focuses on long-term player development by utilizing smaller ice surfaces to enhance skating, passing, shooting and overall touches of the puck. Games will be ongoing throughout the weekend at the Downtown Community Arena.

RED DEER – Hockey officials in Alberta will find a few changes in the registration and clinic process as they prepare for the 2018-19 season.

As part of a larger restructuring at the provincial and regional levels, Hockey Alberta is implementing a fully online registration and payment process for clinics that also requires ALL adult officials (19 years and older) to have a current Criminal Record Check (CRC) on file as a prerequisite to being allowed to register for a clinic.

Adult officials must complete a CRC every three seasons, as per Hockey Alberta’s policy. The CRC requirement has been in place for three seasons; therefore, officials who completed a CRC in that initial season will need to complete the CRC process again this year.

CRCs are accepted only through the online platform of Sterling Talent Solutions. Once received by Hockey Alberta, it may take up to a week for HCR to be updated; therefore, officials are advised to complete the CRC process as soon as possible.

Clinic listings and registration links go live on the Hockey Alberta website on August. The deadline to register for a clinic is 10 days prior to the clinic date, to allow for materials to be shipped to instructors. Registration and payment for a clinic must be done online, with payment only accepted via Mastercard or Visa (no debit or prepaid credit cards allowed).

For new officials, the requirement to complete Hockey University (HU – ONLINE OFFICIATING 1/2) prior to attending a clinic remains in place. This will require a new official to set up an eHockey account if the individual does not already have one.

The changes to the registration and clinic process are components of the new operational structure for the Hockey Alberta Officials Committee, and the six Officials Regions effective for the 2018-19 season. The new Officials Committee includes:

Chair – Craig DeCoursey

Data Coordinator – Dave Butler

Supervision Coordinator – Dave Ganley

Match Penalty Coordinator – Kumail Moledina

Male Development Coordinator – TBD

Female Development Coordinator – Carrie Keller

Leadership Coordinator – Chris Bruce

Peace Region Coordinator – CJ Senkow

North East Region Coordinator – Rob Larson

North Region Coordinator – Stefan Brown

North Central Region Coordinator – Darren Kuz

Central Region Coordinator – Lance McKinnon

South Region Coordinator – David Shaw

“The new structure of the Officiating Committee will better support a broader and more provincial perspective where it comes to officiating in Alberta,” said Craig DeCoursey, Chair of the committee. “The committee remains largely unchanged from the previous season, allowing us to retain the vast experience and knowledge of the team members, and at the same time promotes a nimble decision-making process that will provide a new level of support for associations, teams and leagues. I’m excited to lead the group in the coming years and be a part of a new beginning for officiating in Alberta.”

Included in the changes is the addition of Curtis Nichols as the new Manager of Officials, based in the Hockey Alberta office in Red Deer.

For any questions pertaining to the new registration and clinic process, or regarding Criminal Record Checks, please contact Curtis Nichols, Manager, Officiating (Registration/Clinics), or Mike Klass, Director, Business Operations (Criminal Record Checks).

RED DEER - Twenty-eight female hockey players from across Alberta are moving forward on the Road to Red Deer.

Team Alberta has announced its shortlist roster for the squad that will participate in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. The shortlist includes three goaltenders, nine defence, and 16 forwards.

Players were selected to the shortlist based on their overall play at the Team Alberta U18 spring camp in May, and at the Provincial Camp in Camrose, July 10-15. Forty-six players were invited to Camrose from the spring camp, and worked through high-intensity on-ice sessions, as well as off-ice training and classroom sessions.

“These 28 athletes have worked hard to get this point,” said Kendall Newell, Hockey Alberta’s Manager, Female Hockey. “We look forward to seeing what they bring to the table at Fall Camp as they make the final push for a spot to represent their province on home ice in February.”

CANMORE - Four outstanding individuals, and and two Canada Winter Games gold medal-winning teams comprise the 2018 Induction Class for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF).

Grant Fuhr, Wally Kozak, Ron MacLean, Mike Vernon, and 1991 Team Alberta U18 Female and 1999 Team Alberta U16 Male were enshrined in Alberta’s hockey history on Sunday night at the AHHF Awards Gala, held at the Coast Hotel in Canmore.

Grant Fuhr was one of the National Hockey League’s greatest goaltenders, playing on five Stanley Cup champion teams over a 20-year career (1981-2000) and earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 in his first year of eligibility. The Spruce Grove native is best known for his 10 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (1981-91).

In his speech, Fuhr said thank you to some of the people who made his Hall of Fame career possible, including: Spruce Grove Minor Hockey and the parents and volunteers who made playing hockey possible; the Oilers and Glen Sather, who took a chance on a kid who was a little rough around the edges; and the Calgary Flames for allowing him to finish his career in Alberta.

Wally Kozak is known as one of the best technical hockey coaches in the world. A career coach and past Head Scout and manager of Player Development for Team Canada Women’s Team, he has been an instrumental part of developing female hockey in Canada thanks to more than four decades of involvement at all levels of the sport.

Kozak acknowledged four significant individuals from Alberta who pioneered coaching development programs in Canada - Dale Henwood, Clare Drake, Dr. George Kingston and Dave King. He also talked about his one year with Father David Bauer’s national team, and the influence Father Bauer had on the type of coach that Kozak would become.

Ron MacLean has interviewed the greatest players, coaches and personalities, and his extensive knowledge and passion for the game of hockey, combined with three decades of hosting Hockey Night in Canada, has made him one of the country’s most famous and beloved broadcasters.

For MacLean, this was a weekend full of memories, as he also attended his 40th anniversary high school reunion. He had memories about each of the other members of the 2018 induction class, including recalling the best save he saw from Grant Fuhr, during an exhibition tour in Norway, and Mike Vernon’s performance in an exhibition game in the 1985-86 season against Moscow Dynamo.

Mike Vernon is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a Memorial Cup winner, who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League with four teams. Mike hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames, and then again in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings.

In his speech, Vernon recalled how he used to attend camps coached by Wally Kozak, and how he and Fuhr squared off not just in the NHL, but also in the junior ranks. He extended thanks to his minor hockey coaches and teammates throughout the years; talked about how coach Bob Johnson made the game fun; and acknowledged the key roles played in his career by goaltending greats such as Glenn Hall, Dan Bouchard, Rejean Lemelin and Rick Wamsley.

The 1991 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PEI marked the first year for female hockey in the Canada Winter Games, and it was a record-setting performance for the players who were selected for the inaugural Team Alberta Female Hockey squad. First and foremost, the team won the gold medal, defeating British Columbia, 2-1, in the championship final.

Loretta Normandeau, one of the team’s assistant coaches, recalled the challenge was finding players to invite to the tryout camp. But the players who comprised the team were truly trailblazers who have helped female hockey expand from the 120 players who attended that first provincial development camp in Lacombe to the more than 8,000 registered in 2017-18 in Alberta.

The 1999 Canada Winter Games marked a significant year for Newfoundland and Labrador. Not only was the province celebrating its 50th anniversary of Confederation with Canada, but it was also the first time the province had ever hosted a Canada Winter Games. For the members of the Team Alberta Male Hockey squad, they helped the host province celebrate by going undefeated to win Alberta’s third gold medal in male hockey in Canada Games competition.

Ben Kilgour recalled how the team was a unique mix of players from different levels of hockey who had played against each other their whole careers but came together as a team for the Games. Then, a fortunate puck bounce in overtime, “and (Scott) Hartnell sends us here today. It happens that quick.” Kilgour thanked all the parents for the time and travel; the minor hockey programs, coaches, managers and volunteers; junior programs that allowed their players to attend the Games; and Hockey Alberta for setting the professional hockey atmosphere and giving them the chance to know the thrill of victory.

The evening concluded with a hot stove discussion hosted by Maclean. Fellow iInductees Fuhr, Vernon, Kozak, Hartnell and Val Gill from the 1991 Team Alberta Female squad reflected on some of the key moments of their careers and about hockey in general.

The 13th annual Golf Classic also takes place in Canmore, beginning Monday evening with a special reception for all participants, as well the celebrity golfers. The tournament goes Tuesday at the Stewart Creek Golf Club. Celebrity golfers include Grant Fuhr, Jordan Eberle, Mark Giordano, Mel Davidson, Rob Brown, Curtis Glencross, 2018 World Junior gold medalists Dillon Dube and Cale Makar, and many more. For the 12th consecutive year, ATB Investor Services is the presenting sponsor of the Golf Classic.

In addition to the Golf Classic, Stewart Creek will also host the first half of the Hockey Alberta Foundation’s annual Rinks to Links program on Tuesday morning, where 30 first-time hockey players will take part in a golf lesson. From there, the participants will head to the Banff Arena to be outfitted head-to-toe with new equipment, and take to the ice for the very first time.

The Every Kid Every Community program was launched in 2011, with the goal of ensuring a gateway to play hockey for any child in Alberta who is interested in the sport. The goal is to provide every child in Alberta the opportunity to play hockey, have fun and, in many cases, experience the sport for the first time. Funding through Every Kid Every Community is available to assist amateur sports organizations, minor hockey organizations, youth groups, recreation groups, or any community group with an idea, project or program that helps establish an event or program to get local children active in hockey.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is bringing a Female Skills Development Camp to Calgary and Red Deer this August.

These camps will focus specifically on female hockey players and providing the skills/development needed for unlocking athlete potential. The camps feature multiple on-ice skill development as well as multiple off-ice multi-sport sessions.

Some of the top female hockey and skills coaches in the area will comprise the on-ice staff. This group of instructors are very passionate about teaching and truly understand what skills are required at the next levels, while at the same time making sure the kids have lots of fun!

Calgary

Open to: 2006-2011 born female athletesCost: $250Dates: August 10-12Arena: Cardel Rec Centre, South

Red Deer

RED DEER - Thirty-five athletes from Alberta have taken the next step on the Road to Red Deer.

Hockey Alberta has announced its shortlist roster for the Team Alberta U16 Male squad that will participate in the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer. The shortlist includes five goaltenders, 10 defencemen, and 20 forwards.

Players were selected to the shortlist based on their overall play throughout the Team Alberta scouting process, past Team Alberta programs, and at the U16 Summer Camp in Camrose, July 3-8. Eighty players were invited to Camrose, and worked through high intensity on-ice sessions, as well as off-ice training and classroom sessions.

“This year’s Summer Camp in Camrose showcased just how many talented athletes we have in Alberta,” said Mike Kraichy, Manager of Team Alberta. “Now, as we move towards the Canada Winter Games, these 35 players are now one step closer to representing their home province in Red Deer.”

The shortlisted players will be scouted with their club teams in the fall, prior to final decisions on the 20 players selected to the Team Alberta roster. The 2019 Canada Winter Games run February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer.

Registration is now open for the Hockey Alberta Super Skills Development Camps taking place in Calgary, Grande Prairie and Red Deer this August.

The Hockey Alberta Super Skills Development Camp focuses on individual skill development on and off the ice.

On-ice sessions include drills in conjunction with Power Edge Pro, power skating, shooting specific techniques, position specific skills and small area games. Off-ice sessions work on agility, balance and coordination and incorporate other sports, to foster overall athleticism within the Long Term Player Development model. These off-ice sessions may include activities such as golf, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and more.

Cost: $499

Open to: 2006-2011 born athletes

This camp includes:

5 consecutive days of activities (players are supervised 8:30-4:30 each day)

CAMROSE – Hockey Alberta’s summer provincial development and evaluation camps begin this week in Camrose and run throughout the month of July.

Some of Alberta’s best hockey talent will be on display at these camps, with more than 200 athletes take part in a variety of on-ice and off-ice development opportunities. All camps are open to the public and take place at the Border Paving Arena at the Camrose Recreation Centre.

The U16 Female Provincial Camp is the second stage of development and identification process that feeds into the Team Alberta U18 Female program. The top 60 players participate in on and off-ice training and classroom sessions, and compete in game environments.

The U16 Male Provincial Camp features the top 80 U16 athletes identified by Hockey Alberta working out in off-ice sessions, as well as on-ice games and practices. From Provincial Camp, a short list will be created, and players scouted with their club teams until the 20-player Team Alberta roster is named for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

The Officials Development Camp runs in conjunction with the U16 Male summer camp, as officials work provincial camp games and receive mentoring and evaluation. This is third stage of development for officials, starting with Alberta Cup zone camps, and progressing to the Alberta Cup competition.

The top 46 U18 female hockey players, selected from a spring camp held in Spruce Grove, take part in a variety of games and practices. After the summer camp, players are shortlisted to continue through a fall training camp and scouting process. From there, the final 20-player Team Alberta roster will be selected for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

AJHL Development Camp, July 17-22

Selected athletes receive both on and off-ice development directed by AJHL/Hockey Alberta staff, and facilitated by the High Performance I Coaching Seminar delegates. The on-ice program will consist of both practice and game sessions, and the off-ice portion will cover athleticism, mental skills and team building as well as the technical and tactical skills required to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

RED DEER - George Hughes, a Life Member of Hockey Alberta, died on Tuesday, June 5 at the age of 93.

George had a long history of involvement in and service to the sport hockey - as a player, coach, manager, referee, executive and builder starting in 1938. George’s playing career included being a member of the University of Alberta hockey team, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950.

Professionally, George’s involvement in hockey continued in the 1970s when, as a City of Edmonton Commissioner, he was instrumental in building eight new arenas in 1973 and in the development of Northlands Coliseum in 1974. He later joined Edmonton Northlands as general manager, overseeing the Coliseum, Agricom and Trade Centre.

In 1981, George arranged a $140,000 donation by Edmonton Northlands to Hockey Alberta as part of the Canada Cup Series, enabling Hockey Alberta to start a scholarship program and acquire a permanent office. The donation also served as core funding for a Hockey Foundation.

Amongst more than 40 recognition awards, George was inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, awarded a Hockey Alberta Life Membership in 1983, and inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989. In 2002, he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Distinguished Contributions to Canada. In 2008 the City of Edmonton honoured George by naming the George S. Hughes South Side Arena after him.

A celebration of the life of George Hughes will be held on Friday, June 15, 1 p.m., at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home – Edmonton South, 4820 Meridian Street, Edmonton). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sport Central, of which George was a founding member.

RED DEER - Forty-six female hockey players are now one step closer to skating for Team Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

Hockey Alberta has extended invitations to 46 athletes born in 2001-2003 to compete at Team Alberta’s U18 Female Summer Development Camp, which runs July 10-15 in Camrose. The list includes six goalies, 16 defense, and 24 forwards.

"We’re excited for these 46 athletes to take the next step on the Road to Red Deer," said Kendall Newell, Hockey Alberta’s Manager of Female Hockey. "This is a very talented group of individuals, and we look forward to seeing what they bring to Summer Camp in Camrose."

The 46 athletes were selected from 88 who attended the spring selection camp in Spruce Grove, which included fitness testing, mental skills preparations, on and off- ice skills sessions, and several games.

From the camp in Camrose, a shortlist will be established, with those players invited to another selection camp in the fall. Team Alberta will compete at the 2019 Canada Winter Games February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer.

Do you have a child aged 6-10 that is ready to fall in love with hockey? Registration is now open for the 2018-19 Canadian Tire First Shift program.

The First Shift is a truly unique experience designed to help your child fall in love with hockey before you buy all the gear. The six-week learn to play program focuses on having fun while learning basic skills. Registration is just $199, which includes full head-to-toe equipment.

The First Shift will be offered in 12 locations throughout Alberta in the fall, and three in the winter:

Fall Programs:

Calgary

Edmonton

Grande Prairie

Lamont

Leduc

Lethbridge

Onoway

Peace River

Red Deer*

Rocky Mountain House

Strathcona

Westlock

Winter Programs:

Airdrie

Calgary

Edmonton

*The First Shift Program in Red Deer will be hosted by Hockey Alberta.

The First Shift’s mission is to change the way hockey is offered, to inspire new families to join our community and enroll their kids in our sport. Because we believe in all that hockey has to offer kids, their families and our communities, we designed The First Shift to break down barriers to entry by offering a program that is accessible, affordable, and most importantly, fun!

EDMONTON - Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), in partnership with Hockey Alberta, announced today a new Novice hockey event taking place August 11-12, 2018 at the Downtown Community Arena.

In conjunction with the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Centre ICE Summit, the Summer ICE Jamboree will bring Novice hockey players from across Alberta together to be immersed in the excitement of international hockey and the thrill of learning and playing alongside new teammates. Players will register individually and be placed on teams which will represent each of the eight nations competing in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

“Oilers Entertainment Group is proud to partner with Hockey Alberta and support the growth of grassroots hockey in our province,” said Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and Vice Chair Bob Nicholson.” Growing the game from the bottom up has a very positive effect on our National teams, including Team Canada which will be competing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer.”

Participation in the fun-filled weekend will include five half-ice games and a complimentary ticket to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal game on Saturday, August 11. Registration is open to any players born in 2010 and 2011. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis and the deadline to register is Friday, July 27.

The event will be structured according to Hockey Alberta’s new Intro to Hockey model which focuses on long-term player development by utilizing smaller ice surfaces to enhance skating, passing, shooting and overall touches of the puck.

“Hockey Alberta is excited to partner with OEG and utilize this high-profile event to showcase our Intro to Hockey model. We believe the Jamboree will be an enjoyable experience for players and a great opportunity for Hockey Alberta to continue the education process for parents about Intro to Hockey,” said Rob Litwinski, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Alberta.

Coaching opportunities will also be available at the Summer ICE Jamboree. Interested coaches can apply at SummerIceJamboree.com. Hockey Alberta staff will be on-site to provide coaches with support in facilitating the new Intro to Hockey format. There will also be drop-in information sessions for parents and the public to attend to learn more about this new approach to Novice hockey. For more information regarding the Intro to Hockey Model, please visit www.hockeyalberta.ca/players/intro-hockey.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta recognizes the amazing work done by groups and individuals in the game of hockey every year through the Hockey Alberta Awards Program.

But we need your help! All members of the hockey community in Alberta are encouraged to submit a nomination for a deserving individual or association.

The awards program has been restructured this year, and there are six awards open for nominations:

Volunteer of the Year: a volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season

Coach of the Year: a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.

Player of the Year: a player who has achieved significant achievements, performances and contributions within amateur hockey during the current season.

Official of the Year: an official who has made an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey during the current season.

Team of the Year: a team that had significant achievements, performances and contributions within amateur hockey during the current season.

Order of Merit: recognizing exceptional leadership and distinguished service to amateur hockey in Alberta for ten (10) years or more. Awards may be presented in the categories of Administration, Coaching/ Development, and Officiating.

SPRUCE GROVE - Another step on the Road to Red Deer is underway as the 2018 Team Alberta U18 Female Spring Selection Camp kicks off in Spruce Grove.

Eighty-eight of the top 2001, 2002 and 2003-born female hockey players in Alberta will take to the ice this weekend as part the next step in the selection process for the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Players are invited to the camp based on previous Team Alberta programs, as well as scouting of players through their Midget club teams. The camp is a four-day test of fitness, skill and mental preparedness.

The 2018 Spring Selection Camp runs through to Sunday at the Tri-Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove.

From the Spring Selection Camp, 46 athletes are invited to attend the week-long Team Alberta Program U18 Provincial Summer Selection Camp in July. Players participate in high intensity on and off-ice training as well as classroom sessions and fitness testing.

The 2018 Summer Selection Camp will be held July 10-15 in Camrose.

After the provincial camp, a shortlist of players are identified to continue through a fall training camp and scouting process. The fall camp will include on and off-ice sessions, and some exhibition games. From there, the Team Alberta coaching staff announce the final 20-player roster.

The 2019 Canada Winter Games are set for February 15 - March 3 in Red Deer.

RED DEER - Eighty male athletes from across Alberta have been invited to take the next step on the Road to Red Deer.

Invitations have been extended to the players to attend the Team Alberta U16 Male Summer Camp July 3-8 in Camrose, which is the next step in the selection process for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

"Our team staff did a fantastic job identifying the 80 players who will move on," said Mike Kraichy, Manager of Team Alberta. "It’s never an easy task, considering the depth of talent we have in Alberta, but we’re confident we have the right mix of players as we move along the Road to Red Deer."

The male list includes eight goalies, 24 defence, and 48 forwards. The selection process is based on the Team Alberta scouting process throughout the 2017-18 season, as well as the 2018 Alberta Cup in Spruce Grove in April. From the camp in Camrose, a shortlist will be established, with those players scouted with their club teams until the 20 players who will comprise the roster for Team Alberta are named.

In January, Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada announced Lacombe as the host site for the annual Senior AAA national championship.

“We think it’s a great marriage, we are so excited to move forward from here to work towards giving the best Allan Cup we’ve ever seen,” said Steve Christie, Host Committee Chair.

Viking Projects is a pipeline, facility, fabrication, and construction company based in Alberta and Saskatchewan, with a main branch in Lacombe.

“We are looking forward to coming on board with the Generals and the Allan Cup, and really trying to drive our community and showcase to Canada how passionate we are about this community, and about the organizations within,” said Rob Wilson, Partner of Viking Projects Ltd. “For us it was an easy decision, and we look forward to getting behind it.”

The Generals previously hosted the Allan Cup in Red Deer in 2013, defeating the Clarenville Caribous in the final.

“The Allan Cup is history. Lacombe is known for its history as well, and we want to showcase the history of hockey,” said Jeff McInnis, General Manager of the Generals.

The event will be hosted at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex, April 8 -13, 2019. Six teams will participate in the round-robin, pool-play event, followed by sudden-death playoffs.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is now accepting applications for key volunteer positions across a number of committees for the 2018-19 hockey season.

Volunteers are the faces of Hockey Alberta within their communities, positively representing themselves and the organization in regular encounters on a daily basis with participants in our sport.

Each year, hundreds of volunteers play integral roles in ensuring that Hockey Alberta is able to deliver high quality and efficient programming and services to the more than 90,000 participants across the province. Responsibilities range from day-to-day involvement in administration and discipline decisions for minor hockey, to coaching, instructing and mentoring, to working as a trainer or equipment manager in the Team Alberta program.

Currently, applications are being sought from interested individuals for Chair positions on each of 11 Committees, Zone Coordinator positions on five Committees, and MHA Ambassadors.

Calgary South claimed bronze with a 2-1 overtime win over Edmonton Blue in the B Final. Earlier in the day, South defeated Calgary North 9-3 in the C Final, while Northwest scored with less than a minute left in overtime to beat Northeast 3-2 in the D Final.

Forward

All-Star Official

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – The St. Albert Slash became the first team in Esso Cup history to repeat as back-to-back champions, defeating the Saskatoon Stars 2-1 to win gold at Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.

“It was pretty amazing, nothing can beat it,” St. Albert Slash captain Tyra Meropoulis, of Edson, said of her feelings after the game. “Winning two in a row is unbelievable. It is such an amazing feeling.”

After suffering a 4-1 loss to the Stars in the preliminary round, the Slash rebounded in the championship game by opening the scoring with just under three minutes remaining in the first period. Late-period goals were the key to the team’s success, as St. Albert took a 2-0 lead with less than one minute remaining in the second period. The Stars cut the deficit in half 47 seconds into the third period, but could not find the back of net as time expired.

“[St. Albert] did a great job. An absolutely great job,” said Greg Slobodzian, head coach of the Saskatoon Stars. “We haven’t been pressured like that in a long time. Our girls didn’t know how to handle it at the beginning, but I thought we answered really well in the third period. It could have went either way."

Meropoulis led the Slash with one goal and one assist in the final, while veteran Madison Willan of Edmonton recorded the game-winning goal in the second period. Jayme Doyle of Calahoo also registered one assist in the game.

Goaltender Camryn Drever of Edmonton made 14 saves on her way to securing the win, while Mackenzie Butz of Sherwood Park earned player of the game honours for St. Albert.

SPRUCE GROVE - After another busy day of hockey at the 2018 Alberta Cup, round-robin play wrapped-up, and the standings are now set heading into Saturday.

After going undefeated (3-0-0) through round-robin play, Edmonton Yellow locked up first in Pool A. Central claimed the other semi-final spot, finishing 2-1, while Calgary North and Northwest finished third and fourth, respectively.

With a win and a loss on Friday, Calgary South finished at the top of Pool B. Edmonton Blue and South tied their final round-robin game to each finish 1-1-1, but Edmonton Blue clinched second place in Pool B by virtue of a tie-breaker, with Northeast coming in fourth.

Saturday kicks off with Northeast and Calgary North playing in the first C/D Semi-Final at 9:00 a.m., and Northwest and South in the other at 9:30 a.m. Calgary South and Central battle in Semi-Final One at 11:45 a.m., and Day Three closes out with the other Semi-Final game between Edmonton Yellow and Edmonton Blue at 2:15 p.m.

SPRUCE GROVE - After a busy first day of the 2018 Alberta Cup in Spruce Grove, Edmonton Yellow and Central came away with two wins, while Edmonton Blue and Calgary South won their only games of the day.

In Pool A, both Edmonton Yellow and Central defeated Northwest and Calgary North, while Edmonton Blue and Calgary South won their games over Northeast and South, respectively.

Pool B teams will each play a pair of games on day two, while Pool A teams will each play just one. Round-robin play wraps up after day two, with the top two teams in each pool earning a spot in the Alberta Cup semi-finals.

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition. The event also features an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Full tournament results will be displayed on the score ticker at the top of both hockeyalberta.ca and abcup.ca. Schedules, stats and standings can also be found at abcup.ca. You can also follow along with the action on Twitter.

The Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta. It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Program.

RED DEER - Orest Korbutt, a Life Member of Hockey Alberta, died on Friday, April 20 at the age of 81.

Orest had a long history of volunteer service to amateur hockey in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world. He served as the President of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) for six years, from 1980-1986. During his time as President, he established the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, a Scholarship program, and an Endowment Fund.

At the national level, Orest served six years on the Board of Directors with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was instrumental in establishing the national medical and liability insurance program. Internationally, Orest was actively involved in exchange programs with the Japanese and Chinese Ice Hockey Federations that lasted for more than three decades.

At the local level in Edmonton with the Knights of Columbus association, he was instrumental in the purchase of their twin ice pad and helped oversee operations of the arena complex.

Outside of hockey, Orest was a leader with several organizations. He served as Chair of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Chair of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum for 15 years, Chair of the task force that created the Alberta Sports Plan, and as a Board member with Sports Central.

Orest’s work and achievements have been recognized over the years, with numerous honours bestowed including: Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Order of Merit and Recognition Award, Alberta Amateur Hockey Association Life Membership, Edmonton Minor Hockey Association Life Membership and Recognition Award, Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee (1988), Edmonton Sport Hall of Fame inductee, City of Edmonton Achievement Award, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2013) and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2013.

Hockey Alberta extends its deepest condolences to Orest’s wife of 63 years, Gertrude, and their family: children, Corrine (Fred), Therese, Greg (Stacey), Jackie (Michael); seven grandchildren; and one great grandson.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street NW, Edmonton, AB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Orest’s memory to Edmonton Sports Central.

Administrator of the Year

AFHL Scholarship Winners

The Alberta Female Hockey League annually presents four scholarships; two to graduating players from the AFHL as well as two to young women currently attending post secondary and who are giving back to the game through coaching or officiating. All of these scholarships will be awarded to help off-set the costs of pursuing a post secondary degree at the institution of their choice.

The AFHL received an overwhelming response to the scholarship fund and recipients were chosen from an extremely deep pool of applicants. Finalists were chosen based on their strong academics, positive contribution to their team as well as their involvement with their community.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month for March is Kyle Johnson of Clive.

Kyle is currently the Head Coach of the Clive Initiation Blackhawks.

"This was actually my first year as a head coach," said Kyle. "Helping these kids develop a love for the game of hockey and contributing to their development is something I take very seriously. I had an awesome group of assistant coaches helping and our team did very well this season. It is an amazing gesture to be nominated for this type of award and I am very thankful."

"Kyle is all about the kids! What a great guy to have mentoring our Initiation aged kids," said the parent who nominated Kyle. "He makes a point of connecting with each child before a game or practice, and let’s them know that he’s so happy they’re there and he wishes them a great practice or game. His positivity radiates, and the kids just beam when he’s on the ice with them. He’s wonderful about making practices fun, but also explains to them the importance of the skills that they’re building. Fun is the top priority, but Kyle has worked hard to come up with practice plans that promote skill growth and fun. The kids are being equipped with the skills to move forward in a positive growth mindset, and having fun doing it. After each game Kyle will point out something that each child has done well, and shows the team how to celebrate each other’s successes and how together that adds up to the team having success as a group. Every child gets the same opportunity with Kyle, and he’s so proud of his little group and what they’ve achieved this season."

In the spring of 2017, Hockey Alberta announced that – effective for the 2018-19 season – Parents and Coaches/Team Officials would be required to recertify their Respect in Sport every four seasons. The requirement to recertify comes into effect on May 1.

For the 2018-19 season, the requirement to recertify affects Parents and Coaches/Team Officials who completed their Respect in Sport certification prior to the 2015-16 season.

The Respect in Sport Parent Program helps define a standard of behaviour for all parents and create a more rewarding, safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. Parents want to do a great job supporting their kids. Respect in Sport provides parents with the tools to do just that.

The Respect in Sport Activity Leader/Coach Program educates coaches and activity leaders to recognize, understand and respond to issues of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination. It may be the single most important training leaders receive to assist in creating a safe, healthy and respectful environment for all participants. NOTE: Speak Out is no longer recognized as a relevant program for coaches.

For more information on Respect in Sport, and the recertification process: Respect in Sport >

Hockey Alberta’s Regional Consultant, South, Matt Weninger, contributes regularly to the Lethbridge Herald with his "Hockey Talk" column. His most recent piece focuses on the Humboldt Broncos tragedy, and the effect by the entire hockey world, the country, and beyond.

It is in quite a sombre and reflective mood that I write this article. Usually I like to start my column discussing the weather or some programs that Hockey Alberta is running. All of that seems to feel irrelevant this week based on both the tragedy in Humboldt and the news of Brock Hirsche passing away Sunday morning.

It is rather difficult to comprehend what happened in Humboldt and even more challenging to understand the magnitude of this accident. I coached Layne Matechuk at the U16 WHL Cup a few years ago (who remains in a coma at this point), played hockey with assistant coach Mark Cross last year and crossed paths several times with Logan Boulet over the years (both of whom passed away). As well, my neighbour Andrew Thompson was a member of the Broncos last year before a trade took him to Melfort where he finished the season, and saw his season end at the hands of the Broncos no less.

I have rode buses for hundreds of thousands of miles (maybe more but definitely not less) in both my playing and coaching career – blindly placing all of my trust in the bus driver to get us to our destination safely.

Those who have never played junior hockey (or even hockey in general) may not understand the sanctity of the bus. The bus is where we live, watch movies, do homework, play cards, sleep and socialize with our teammates. Where we drive from one location to the next in a travelling box that at its best the TVs work, the Wi-Fi works and is a tolerable place to be. At its worst it smells like the bathroom, is too hot or too cold and most assuredly is uncomfortable.

The reality is that anyone who has played a high level of hockey has more than a few unhappy stories of 16-hour bus rides, of hearing the rumble strips at 2 a.m. and of buses breaking down on the side of the road hours from your destination. We hate the bus, we dread the trips but we tolerate it because we love the game, we strive for the competition and we would do anything for the teammates we ride the bus for (even the ones whose personal hygiene in these confined spaces isn’t ideal and those who can’t hold it until the next time the bus stops).

I have ridden a bus from Canton, N.Y. to Houghton, Michigan, and Flin Flon, Man. to Estevan, Sask., and those are only a few of the horrible trips I can name. I used to bring a big, thick blanket, place it on the floor with a pillow over top and sleep on the floor through the night because that beat having to try and squish on a lumpy seat with the cold window as a pillow. The bus trips were not something to look forward to and the longer the trip and the worse the weather the more dreaded the trip home.

But that is part of the culture of hockey, and it will never change. I am not one to complain about that culture and I don’t want anyone to think I am complaining about the lifestyle. Because I don’t want it to change. Because as bad as those bus trips are, the reward of getting to play the game you love in front of thousands of people who either cheer you or jeer you is the rush that is worth the bus trip. The challenge of winning a game -and to those who don’t understand it, we know it is only a game – is worth the reward of the nine-hour bus ride. And should you lose – that nine-hour bus ride is necessary to cure the mental anguish of the loss.

It’s not about hockey players being a different breed. It’s about the friendships built on a team, the bond built within a group and the bus being the means to meet a challenge and to live a temporary dream that we all know will one day come to an end. The sad part of this story is so many in the hockey world can connect to life on the bus. We all feel so emotionally scarred seeing 16 individuals living the same dream that we can all connect with and seeing so many dreams and lives end in a tragic accident.

I will never forget hearing the news of that bus accident last weekend, and I will also never forget the many bus trips I have taken throughout my life, whether that was home from a loss or home from a win. But this weekend made me appreciate how lucky I was to be able to return home.

I’d also like acknowledge the loss our community feels with the passing of Brock Hirsche. My last column, I aimed to show my respect and gratitude of how incredible a person Brock was. Even when I was writing that column I still believed we’d have many more months of Brock with us, that I would run into Brock many more times. Unfortunately, Brock left us much too soon.

This weekend has hit our community extremely hard. To those we lost last weekend, you will be missed, and the reaction from the rest of the world assures your legacy will live on.

The memorial service for Brock will be on Friday at Nicholas Sheran, and the memorial for Logan will be Saturday at Nicholas Sheran. There are two families in our community that are hurting and this is a chance for us to show them our support.

RED DEER – Hockey Alberta, its two largest Minor Hockey Associations, and the four largest minor leagues in the province are pleased to announce that the Alberta One Standardized Tiering Model will be in operation for the 2018-19 season.

Consistency in tiering has been a significant concern raised in feedback provided by families across the province in Participant Satisfaction Surveys conducted by Hockey Alberta in 2015 and 2017.

For the past year, these six organizations have worked within Hockey Alberta’s Minor Leagues Committee to develop a tiering model that ensures teams are tiered accurately and consistently by accounting for the size of a minor hockey association, the size of a league, and various geographic factors.

The Alberta One Standardized Tiering Model includes:

Six tiers within the divisions of Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget.

A tiering grid to assist organizations in placing their teams within a specific division.

The ability for larger organizations to split tiers into smaller groups based on number of teams, games to be played and travel

The ability for smaller organizations to utilize the grid to determine the number of tiers to operate based on number of teams.

Teams proceed through tiering rounds for final placement determined by policies of the individual league.

RED DEER - A pair of Alberta teams look to punch their ticket to a national championship as the Midget AAA and Midget AAA Female Pacific Regional Championships go this weekend.

Less than a week removed from winning the Midget AAA provincial championship, the Lethbridge Midget AAA Hurricanes head to Chilliwack, BC to take on the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the 2018 Telus Cup. Games one and two are set for Friday and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively, with game three scheduled for Sunday at 12 noon, if necessary.

The 2018 Telus Cup runs April 23-29 in Sudbury, Ontario.

Meanwhile, for the second straight year, the St. Albert Ron Hodgson Slash of the Alberta Female Hockey League will travel to Richmond to battle the Greater Vancouver Comets for a spot in the Esso Cup. The Slash defeated the Comets in last year’s Pacific Regional Championships en route to an Esso Cup championship.

Games one and two are scheduled for Friday at 5:45 p.m. and Saturday at 12 noon, with game three set for Sunday at 1 p.m., if necessary. The 2018 Esso Cup runs April 22-28 in Bridgwater, Nova Scotia.

The event was held in January at Bo’s Bar and Grill in Red Deer, with Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames fans gathering for a night of hockey, stories, and a chance to win tickets to see the Battle of Alberta in Edmonton on January 25, and in Calgary on March 31.

The night was hosted by Red Deer Rebel’s Game Night Host Troy Gillard. Special guests Rob Brown, Jason Strudwick and Curtis Glencross were also in attendance, and treated the crowd to an intimate hockey hot stove.

From left: Rob Brown, Curtis Glencross and Jason Strudwick

“We were thrilled to once again partner with the Piper Creek Optimist Club of Red Deer to bring the Battle of Alberta fundraising event back for a second year,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “The event was once again a major sucess, and we are very humbled by everyone’s support of Every Kid Every Community.”

The event brought in just under $30,000 total, with roughly $8,000 going back to the Piper Creek Optimist Club for other youth initiatives in Central Alberta.

The Junior A Provincial Championship will be decided through the Alberta Junior Hockey League Playoffs. The North and South Division finals began on March 30. The Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers are tied 1-1 in the South Division Final, while the Spruce Grove Saints carry a 2-0 lead over the Whitecourt Wolverines in the North Division Final.

The 2018 Bantam AAA Provincial Champion Airdrie Xtreme were one shot away from gold at the 2018 Western Bantam AAA Championships in Kamloops, losing in double overtime to bring home a silver medal.

Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship – March 29 - April 1 – Kamloops, British Columbia

RED DEER - Applications are now being accepted from experienced and interested individuals to serve in a leadership capacity with Hockey Alberta’s Officials Committee for the 2018-19 season.

Available positions include the Officials Committee Chair, as well as the Regional Coordinator (previously Zone Chair) positions for each of the six Officials Regions in the province: Peace, North, North East, North Central, Central and South.

In addition, applications also are being accepted for the following Coordinator positions: Data, Match Penalty, Supervision, Male Development and Female Development.

The Officials Committee provides oversight and monitoring of the delivery of the Hockey Canada Officiating Program within Hockey Alberta. The Committee is responsible for the administration, operational standards and development of new components regarding the officiating program in Alberta. Responsibilities include: recruiting, training, mentoring, developing and evaluating officials; selecting and appointing officials for all provincial, regional and national championship games/events hosted in Alberta; and providing guidance and leadership on all matters pertaining to officiating with leagues, minor hockey associations and other stakeholders.

Deadline for applications for the Committee Chair is May 1. Deadline for applications for the Coordinator positions is May 8.

You can keep track of all this weekend’s tournaments at haprovincials.ca, by following along with the score ticker at hockeyalberta.ca, on Facebook, or on Twitter (using the hashtags #HAProvincials or #ATBProvincials), or on Snapchat (username: hockeyalberta).

Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial are also proud to unveil a brand new Snapchat filter, available at all Provincial rinks across the province. Players and fans are encouraged to use the Provincials filter, and send a photo to Hockey Alberta on Snapchat for a chance to win a gift card prize pack from Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media: Junior B: TwitterMidget AA: TwitterMidget Female Elite:TwitterBantam AA:TwitterPeewee AA: Twitter

The Junior A Provincial Championship will be decided through the Alberta Junior Hockey League Playoffs. The North and South Division finals begin on March 31. The Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers are set to face off in the South Division Final, while the Whitecourt Wolverines and Spruce Grove Saints will battle in the North Division Final.

Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship – March 29 - April 1 – Kamloops, British Columbia

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the rosters for the 2018 Alberta Cup.

Eight teams will take to the ice at the Agrena in Spruce Grove April 25-29. The teams include two from each of Calgary and Edmonton, and one each representing the South, Central, Northeast and Northwest zones of the province.

Twenty 2003-born players comprise each roster, along with volunteers serving as head coach, assistant coaches, trainer, and director of operations. Rosters were selected in the aftermath of zone camps held March 23-25 throughout the province.

"We are very excited to take the next step in the Road to Red Deer," said Manager of Team Alberta, Mike Kraichy. "We’re looking forward to a fantastic event in Spruce Grove this year, and for the high level of talent that will hit the ice."

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition. The event also features an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League.

Eighty players from this year’s competition will be selected to attend Team Alberta’s Provincial Camp in July, with a chance to represent their province at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

Tournament Passes

Tournament passes for the 2018 Alberta Cup are now on sale. A weekend pass is $59 (plus GST), a family weekend pass (two adults and two children) is $173 (plus GST), and a day pass is $17 (plus GST). Day Passes will also be available at the door.

Alberta Cup Banquet

Tickets for the 2018 Alberta Cup Banquet are also now available for purchase. Tickets are $59 per person (plus GST). Only 180 tickets are available, and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.. The Alberta Cup Banquet is Saturday, April 28 at 5 p.m. at the Stony Plain Pavilion.

Volunteers

The 2018 Alberta Cup is looking for passionate, dedicated volunteers! If you are interested in being part of the Alberta Cup, numerous volunteer positions are available throughout the tournament, including: off-ice officials, admission table, program and 50/50 sales, security and more. To apply to be a volunteer, please fill out the form below.

Two league playoffs wrapped up on Wednesday evening in Senior AAA and Bantam AAA. The Lacombe Generals repeated as Senior AAA Provincial champs with a 6-1 win over the Stony Plain Eagles, taking the best-of-seven series four games to one.The Generals now head to the Allan Cup, which runs April 9-14 in Rosetown, SK.

An incredibly close Bantam AAA series between the Airdrie Xtreme and St. Albert Sabres, which saw a total of nine overtime periods, came to a close when Airdrie scored near the end of the fourth overtime of game five. The Xtreme advance to the Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship, March 29 - April 1 in Kamloops, BC.

The Alberta Junior Female Hockey League crowned a champion as well, with the Sherwood Park Steele skating away with the Provincial banner.

In addition to the on-ice action, five more host communities held a True Spirit of Hockey Day to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport: Daysland/Forestburg (Thunderstars), La Crete, Okotoks, Oyen, and Taber.

The 2018 Provincial Championships tournament schedule wraps up this coming weekend with six tournaments set for March 29 - April 1: Junior B (Fort St. John), Junior C (Sherwood Park), Midget AA (Spruce Grove), Midget Female Elite (Calgary), Bantam AA (Edmonton), Peewee AA (Glenlake/Calgary). The Midget AAA Provincials will wrap up by April 1 as well, with the best-of-five series between the Knights of Columbus Pats and Lethbridge Hurricanes tied at 1-1.

The Junior A Provincial Championship will be decided through the Alberta Junior Hockey League Playoffs. The North and South Division finals begin on March 31. The Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers are set to face off in the South Division Final for the second straight year, while the Spruce Grove Saints will have to wait for Game Seven between the Whitecourt Wolverines and Fort McMurray Oil Barons to decide who they will face in the North Division Final.

Despite trailing for most of the game, the Bantam Males looked poised for overtime in the gold medal game against host Northwest Territories, before allowing a buzzer-beater with less than 10 seconds to go in the game.

Meanwhile, the Junior Females went the distance against the Yukon, and took home the bronze medal after a 3-2 shootout win. Tea Vasseur and Sanna Mierzewski scored for Alberta North, with Sanne Hansen scoring the shootout-winner.

FORT SMITH/HAY RIVER - Both Team Alberta North squads have a chance to medal at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games, with the Bantam Males set to play for gold, and the Junior Females looking to capture bronze.

The Bantam Males opened up Thursday with a 3-3 tie against Nunavut to close out round-robin play, finishing fourth in the standings. Alberta North got goals from Jacobi Rouleau, Brandon MacIntyre and Hudson Chalifoux.

Later on in the day, the Bantam Males avenged a 7-2 loss on Monday against Alaska by upsetting the top-seeded team 2-1, earning a berth in the gold medal final, and a chance to repeat as Arctic Winter Games champions. Sheldon Parliament and Brandon MacIntyre were the goal-scorers for Alberta North.

The gold medal game is set for 4 p.m. on Friday against the host Northwest Territories, after Nunavut and Alaska battle for bronze.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Female’s semi-final matchup, Alberta North narrowly missed out on the championship final with a 3-2 loss to Northwest Territories. Sanne Hansen and Abigail-Marie Robinson scored for Alberta.

The Junior Females will go for bronze against the Yukon at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, while Alaska and host NWT will battle for gold at 6:00 p.m.

FORT SMITH/HAY RIVER - The Team Alberta North Junior Female squad punched its ticket to the semi-finals, while the Bantam Males moved to a 1-2 record on Wednesday at the Arctic Winter Games.

A tough second period led to a 5-2 loss for the Bantam Males again the host Northwest Territories. After NWT opened the scoring, Ethan Alook-Ferguson answered for Alberta North, before allowing three unanswered goals in the second. Cooper Coates responed for Alberta in the third, before NWT put it away just minutes later.

The loss moves Alberta to 1-2 in round-robin play, but its two points are enough for a semi-final berth on Thursday afternoon. The Bantam Male team closes out round-robin play on Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. against Nunavut.

Meanwhile, the Junior Females drew to a 3-3 tie with the Yukon on Wednesday evening to wrap up round-robin play, which was enough to seal a spot in the semi-finals. Myah Cassault, Sanne Hansen and Tea Vasseur were the goal-scorers for Alberta North.

The Junior Females will battle the host Northwest Territories Thursday at 5:00 p.m. for a spot in Friday’s gold medal game.

Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial are also proud to unveil a brand new Snapchat filter, available at all Provincial rinks across the province. Players and fans are encouraged to use the Provincials filter, and send a photo to Hockey Alberta on Snapchat for a chance to win a gift card prize pack from Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial.

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media:

Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship – March 29 - April 1 – Kamloops, British Columbia

FORT SMITH/HAY RIVER - It was another up and down day for the Team Alberta North Male and Female squads at the Arctic Winter Games.

The Junior Females, playing their third game in just over 24 hours, skated to a 4-1 loss against the Northwest Territories. NWT carried a 3-0 lead halfway through the third until Sanne Hansen put Alberta North on the board, but NWT responded to make it a 4-1 final.

The Junior Female team now holds a 1-2 record moving into its final round-robin game on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.against the Yukon.

After a 7-2 loss on Monday, the Bantam Males rebounded in a big way on Tuesday with an 8-0 win over the Yukon to move to 1-1 at the Arctic Winter Games. Joseph Gerwatoski, Ethan Alook-Ferguson, and Dalton Seniantha all had two-goal games for Alberta North, with Sheldon Parliament and Jacobi Rouleau adding tallies as well.

The males are back in action Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. against the Northwest Territories.

FORT SMITH/HAY RIVER - It was an up and down first day for Team Alberta North at the 2018 Arctic Winter Games in Fort Smith and Hay River, NWT.

The Bantam Male squad dropped a 7-2 decision to Team Alaska on Monday in its only game of the day. Alberta and Alaska were tied 1-1 after the first period, with Alaska opening the scoring, and Joseph Gerwatoski replying for Alberta minutes later.

Alaska came back with four straight goals in the second period, and two more in the third before Adam Morrow stopped the bleeding for Alberta. The Bantam Males are back at it Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. against the Yukon.

Meanwhile, the Junior Female team kicked off the Arctic Games with a bang, shutting out Nunavut 7-0 in its first game of the day. Alberta North came out of the gate firing on all cylindars, with five goals in the first period from Kennedy Hartman, Shelby-Lyn Richards (2), Rhys Johnson and Kali Laderoute. Sanne Hansen and Hartman scored in the second to make it a 7-0 game.

After a short turnaround between games, the Junior Females were edged by Alaska 1-0 to move to 1-1 in the tournament. The game was deadlocked until Alaska broke the goose egg halfway through the third, and managed to shut out Alberta North the rest of the way.

The Female squad’s next game is Tuesday afternoon against the host Northwest Territories.

In addition to the on-ice action, seven host communities held a True Spirit of Hockey Day to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport: Beaverlodge, Bentley, Chestermere, Elk Point, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and Whitecourt.

Five more host communities will host a True Spirit of Hockey Day this week: Daysland/Forestburg (Thunderstars), La Crete, Okotoks, Oyen, and Taber.

It was a busy weekend for post-secondary teams as well, as the MacEwan Griffins Men’s team repeated as ACAC Champions, one week after the Griffins’ Female team captured the ACAC title on the women’s side.

Meanwhile, the University of Alberta Golden Bears continued their winning ways, repeating as the U-Sports National Men’s Hockey champions.

Western Canadian Bantam AAA Championship – March 29 - April 1 – Kamloops, British Columbia

FORT SMITH/HAY RIVER - The quest for gold begins on Monday for Team Alberta North Bantam Male and Junior Female, as the 2018 Arctic Winter Games get underway in Fort Smith and Hay River, Northwest Territories.

The Bantam Male squad’s tournament kicks off at 11 a.m. on Monday against Alaska in Hay River, while the Junior Females battle Nunavut at 11:30 a.m. in Fort Smith.

The Bantam Males will play four round-robin games, with the semi-finals set for Thursday afternoon, and the medal rounds on Friday. On the Junior Female side, there will be three round-robin games, with the semi-finals to go on Thursday and the finals on Friday.

The Arctic Winter Games are the world’s largest northern multi-sport and cultural event. The Arctic Winter Games are a celebration of athletic completion, culture, friendship and cooperation between northern contingents. Athletic competition features sports that enjoy worldwide popularity alongside traditional Arctic Sports and Dene games. The cultural component is a pillar of the Games, featuring visual arts, dance, ceremonies and galas with participants from across the circumpolar region.

Each hockey team is comprised of 17 players and two coaches. Teams participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for medal-round pairings. One gold ulu is awarded in each division. Teams that regularly participate in ice hockey include Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial are also proud to unveil a brand new Snapchat filter, available at all Provincial rinks across the province. Players and fans are encouraged to use the Provincials filter, and send a photo to Hockey Alberta on Snapchat for a chance to win a gift card prize pack from Hockey Alberta and ATB Financial.

You can also follow along with a number of individual tournaments on social media:

Seven host communities are also celebrating True Spirit of Hockey Day this week, with Beaverlodge, Bentley, Chestermere, Elk Point, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and Whitecourt all hosting a number of fun activities at local schools, allowing students to learn about hockey, and the teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport.

RED DEER – Six months of regular season and tournament action, including up to six weeks of games in Zone playdowns, culminates this month, as teams prepare to “March to a title” at the 2018 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships, presented by ATB Financial.

Tournament action will determine the majority of the 2018 provincial champions. Fourteen titles will be awarded on March 18. March 25 will see another 15 champions crowned, and the remaining six champions will be determined on April 1. Tournament champions will emerge from a weekend of round-robin pool play and playoff action in their respective tournaments.

The slate of provincial championship tournaments starts next weekend, March 15-18 in 14 locations around Alberta.

Four champions will be determined via league playoffs: Senior AAA, Junior A, Midget AAA, and Bantam AAA. The final round of the Senior AAA provincials kicks off tonight (Friday) between the Lacombe Generals and the Stony Plain Eagles. Playoffs are just underway in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, while the Midget AAA Division Finals begin on Sunday. The Bantam AAA Provincial Championship is now set, with the St. Albert Sabres and Airdrie Xtreme squaring off, beginning on Saturday.

For schedules, arenas, host organizations, and other event-specific information, check the Provincial Championships website at haprovincials.ca or the Hockey Alberta website at hockeyalberta.ca. You can also follow Hockey Alberta on Twitter and Facebook.

Provincial championship host locations were awarded in mid-December, and in the ensuing months, organizing committees in communities across Alberta have been busy securing local sponsors, organizing opening ceremonies, confirming teams and schedules, ordering souvenirs and player gifts, arranging for accommodations, and numerous other tasks to ensure that the participating teams have a memorable experience.

In addition to the on-ice action, several communities will participate in True Spirit of Hockey Day activities in their location communities. In conjunction with the Provincial Championship tournament hosts in these communities, a local school is hosting a number of fun activities, allowing students to learn about hockey, and the teamwork and friendships that can be generated in the sport. Participating communities are: Beaverlodge, Bentley, Chestermere, Daysland/Forestburg, Elk Point, La Crete, Okotoks, Oyen, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Taber and Whitecourt.

Hockey Alberta’s Small Area Games Camp is a multi-week program, usually running for four or five weeks, with one or two sessions scheduled each week. The focus of the camp is to utilize 3-on-3, cross-ice games at both ends of the rink to teach individual and team tactics, in a fun and competitive environment.

With fewer skaters than a traditional game and special rules, small area games focus on the development of specific skills by increasing puck touches and repetitions, and on developing spatial awareness, thinking skills, and creativity.

Each camp accepts a specified number of skaters and goalies to allow for grouping and team formation. Goalies rotate through both nets within their assigned group. Teams will be changed on a weekly basis, and different game skills will be stressed each week.

Age eligibility may vary camp, so please check the detailed information that is included with the camp registration information. Every attempt is made to group players based on age and ability.

Small Area Games Camps, as well as a number of other specialized player development camps, are held at various locations throughout Alberta, and are coordinated by the Hockey Alberta Regional Centres.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month for February is Charles Vance of Calgary.

Charles is currently the Head Coach of the Calgary Saints Peewee 4 team.

"This year, I have a great group of kids, parents and coaching staff," said Charles. "We were lucky enough to win a contest to represent Alberta in the Canada 150 Tournament in Ottawa. It was amazing to go through the process of creating the video and hearing what the players love about their country, and hockey. Being a coach is such a rewarding part of my life. I get to see players grow as athletes and in their personal life. I am humbled when players from previous years make it a point to come and tell me what has been going on with them both with hockey and life in general. I try to impact each and every player in a positive way and keep their passion for the game of hockey alive."

"This gentleman is what all coaches should aspire to be like, he is making a good impact on so many kids in our association," said the person who nominated Charles. "He walks around the Don Hartman Arena like a celebrity, because every kid that walks by has to go over and say ’hello, Coach’. If you spend any time around him you will be soon be sucked in and helping out with a team or a player that needs some extra help, because Charlie has this way of inspiring coaches and players to go out and help other teams. He gets the players engaged and makes deals with players that he will die his hair if they “try their best for the rest of the year”. This year he heard about an Atom goalie that was having a hard year and decided to set up some Junior goalie coaches and himself to go out and help her out. He even went as far as making a deal with her that he will do push-ups for every save she makes in a game. He is truly inspiring these kids to be better people be leading by example and being a better person. Thank you Charlie, please know you have made a difference!"

RED DEER - As the 2017-18 Alberta Female Hockey League regular season comes to a close, the Rocky Mountain Raiders (Midget AAA), St. Albert Sharks (Midget Elite), and Calgary Fire White (Bantam Elite) lead their respective leagues. This weekend marks the final weekend of regular season action for Midget AAA and Midget Elite, while the Bantam Elite playoffs kick off on Friday.

Rocky Mountain Raiders forward Nicole Fry heads into the final weekend of play atop the Midget AAA leaderboard with 40 points, while teammates Breanne Trotter and Chloe Puddifant lead the league in goals and assists, with 22 goals and 23 assists, respectively.

St. Albert goaltender Camryn Drever carries the league’s best goals against average, heading into March with a 1.36 GAA, and is tied with teammate Brianna Sank with a .940 save percentage, while Rocky Mountain Raiders goalie Stephanie Gross leads all Midget AAA goalies with 12 wins.